Poonam Sharma
A shocking scandal involving Humayun Kabir, Babri Masjid politics, and an alleged sting operation has rocked West Bengal politics just days before the first phase of voting. The political scene in Bengal has become more dramatic than ever, with claims of secret meetings, cash deals worth hundreds of crores, and attempts to divide Muslim voters.
The controversy started when the Trinamool Congress put out a video that they said showed Humayun Kabir talking about a political deal with BJP leaders. The accusations say that Kabir was offered a deal worth almost Rs 1,000 crore to split Muslim votes in important districts.
The video has now become one of the most talked-about things in Bengal’s elections leading up to the 2026 Assembly elections.
The Video That Started the Storm
The sting video that Trinamool Congress put out has made people ask questions . You can only see and hear Humayun Kabir in the video. . The video doesn’t make it clear where it was filmed, who filmed it, or when the conversation took place.
But the things that were supposedly said in the conversation are very serious.
In the video, Kabir is said to have said that he had talked to high-ranking BJP officials, including Suvendu Adhikari. He also talks about a Rs 200 crore advance payment and a bigger political deal worth about Rs 1,000 crore. People seem to have the most problems with the part of the video where he supposedly says that it is easy and politically useful to get Muslims to rally around Babri Masjid.And Also that muslims are very easy to get manipilated .
That one line has sparked a heated political fight.
The Babri Masjid and the Fight for Muslim Support Recently, Humayun Kabir had tried to make himself a strong Muslim face in Bengal politics. His decision to lay the foundation stone for a replica of the Babri Masjid in December 2025 had already sparked a big argument across the state.
At the time, people thought the move was a direct attempt to unite Muslim voters and make a new political identity that was separate from the Congress and the Trinamool Congress.
Trinamool leaders are now saying that Kabir is only using Babri Masjid for political gain.
Firhad Hakim, a senior leader in the Trinamool party, directly attacked Kabir, saying he was using Muslim feelings to get money and power. Hakim says that the community can’t trust anyone who is supposedly willing to bargain over Babri Masjid sentiment for crores.
The attack is important because Muslim votes are still very important in many parts of Bengal, especially Murshidabad, Malda, Birbhum, Uttar Dinajpur, and parts of North 24 Parganas.
Why the Timing Is Important
Not only what is in the video, but also why it was released now, is one of the most important questions in this debate.
The supposed sting operation was filmed on December 19, 2025, just days after Humayun Kabir laid the first stone for the Babri Masjid replica.
But the video wasn’t made public right away.
Instead, it came out only after the deadline for nominations for the Bengal elections had passed and only a few days before the first round of voting. People have speculated that the video was purposely held back for the most political effect because of the timing.
By putting it out after nominations closed, other parties, like AIMIM or smaller Muslim groups, didn’t have much time to change their plans or distance themselves from Kabir.
Political experts say this could help the Trinamool Congress directly, since they don’t want any Muslim votes to be split.
People are looking into Humayun Kabir’s political journey.
Another reason the claims are getting more attention is that Humayun Kabir has a long history of switching political parties.
Kabir got his start in politics with the Congress. Later, he joined the BJP and ran for a seat in the Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket. After that, he joined the Trinamool Congress and then tried again to make a name for himself as an independent politician.
An opportunist instead of a committed ideological leader because he has switched parties so many times , he has switched sides many times for political reasons and to further his own goals.
With the sting video making headlines, a lot of voters are wondering if they can trust Kabir at all.
AIMIM Leaves
The fallout hasn’t just affected Trinamool Congress and Humayun Kabir. AIMIM, which some thought might be an ally or supporter in some Muslim-majority areas, has now publicly distanced itself from him. A big setback because Kabir’s plan seemed to rely on making himself look like a leader who could bring together Muslim voters who are against the Trinamool party. Instead, the controversy might now make him politically alone. He met Suvendu Adhikari, and also had met Mohan Yadav at Madhya Pradesh Bhavan, and talking about a Rs 200 crore advance.
The Bigger Question for Bengal
As the election campaign comes to an end, the bigger question is the main question is whether this scandal will hurt Humayun Kabir enough to keep Muslim votes from splitting. That could be the most important fight for Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress.In Bengal’s high-stakes political arena, what people think is often more important than what they can prove. And right now, the war over how people see things is in full swing.
