TMC Vs Humayun Kabir In Bengal: 'Paid Candidate' Allegations Spark Violent Clashes

Last Updated:April 23, 2026, 13:27 IST

AJUP leader Humayun Kabir launched a scathing attack on the ruling TMC, accusing CM Mamata Banerjee of orchestrating a large-scale bribery scheme to dismantle his campaign

Violent clashes erupted in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district between TMC workers and supporters of Aam Janata Unnayan Party leader Humayun Kabir on the first day of voting in the assembly election on Thursday.

The opening phase of West Bengal’s high-stakes election was overshadowed by violence after Humayun Kabir launched a scathing attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress, accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of orchestrating a large-scale bribery scheme to dismantle his campaign.

Kabir alleged that the TMC actively “purchased" his party’s candidates to force their withdrawal from the race. Speaking during the early hours of polling, he alleged that the ruling party engaged in the bribery of 27 candidates of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) across the state.

“Mamata Banerjee has purchased 27 of our candidates from various seats across Bengal at prices ranging from Rs 9 lakh to Rs 30 lakh," Kabir said.

He claimed that his initial slate of 142 candidates has been whittled down to 115 as a direct result of these financial inducements. He alleged that Mamata Banerjee no longer seeks the support of the state’s Muslim electorate, and has “spent enough money in constructing temples and giving grants to Hindu religious leaders to polarise voters".

When Kabir arrived to visit a polling booth in Shibnagar village, located within the Naoda assembly constituency, he was met with a wall of resistance. Supporters of the TMC surrounded his vehicle, raising “go back" slogans and branding the AJUP leader a “BJP agent".

This demonstration sparked significant tension, requiring the urgent intervention of central forces to bring the situation under control. As the day progressed, reports of physical confrontations began to emerge.

Activists of the AJUP alleged that TMC workers “roughed up" one of their booth-level presidents at his private residence. In another part of Murshidabad, a full-scale clash broke out between TMC workers and AJUP cadres.

The situation became so volatile that security personnel were forced to use a “mild lathicharge" to disperse crowds after arguments erupted between party workers and the police. The atmosphere was already fraught following an incident the previous evening of April 22 (Wednesday), where a crude bomb was reportedly hurled near a resident’s feet as he returned from namaz.

Assistant superintendent of police Majid Khan said “the situation is peaceful" and denied that the voting process was compromised. Kabir, however, claimed that he had appealed for restraint among his followers.

“I told all my people to stay calm… My aim or intention is not to hit, scare, or threaten anyone," he said.

Kabir, who was suspended from the TMC in December following his proposal for a Babri-like mosque, seeks re-election under his new AJUP banner.

The first phase covers 152 constituencies with 1,478 candidates in the fray, with the TMC fighting for a fourth consecutive term against a “renewed push" from the BJP. With the counting of votes scheduled for May 4, the events in Murshidabad underscore the intense pressure and shifting loyalties defining this election cycle.

(With agency inputs)

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