Humayun Kabir's new party removes Hindu pick Nisha Chatterjee within 24 hrs: 'Will send wrong message'

Humayun Kabir (X/ANI image)

• Humayun Kabir dropped Nisha Chatterjee as JUP's Ballygunge candidate
• Kabir cited Chatterjee's social media posts as harming the party's image
• Chatterjee claims she was dropped for being Hindu and may take legal action

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In less than 24 hours after he announced social media influencer Nisha Chatterjee as his Janata Unnayan Party (JUP)’s Ballygunge candidate, Humayun Kabir dropped her name, stating that her photos and videos on social media do not go well for his party’s image.

Kabir, who was suspended by the TMC earlier this month over his proposal to build a Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad, on Monday announced the launch of the Janata Unnayan Party and named candidates for eight seats, including Ballygunge in south Kolkata.

"I have seen some of Nisha's photos and reels on social media, and after seeing those, I feel she should not be the candidate of our party. It will send a wrong message to the people. I have every right to take this decision," he said.

Kabir further stated that he would name a new female candidate for the Ballygunge seat, hinting that she could be Muslim.

Chatterjee, meanwhile, claimed that she was dropped over being a Hindu, while also pointing that she could take a legal action against him.

"Suddenly, there are discussions about my videos. People around me are saying all kinds of things. Humayun 'kaku' (uncle) had initially asked me to be a candidate, and that is how I became one. Now, he is saying different things, casting aspersion on me," she said, according to a PTI report.

"I have been dropped because I am a Hindu. If his party was secular, would this have happened? I stood by his Babri Masjid plan. Then why did he do this to me?" she asked.

She further stated that she was facing social embarrassment due to the incident and may take legal action.

The TMC had suspended Kabir, the MLA of Bharatpur, on December 4 after his announcement to build a Babri-style mosque triggered a massive row.

On December 6, the day the Babri Masjid was razed in Ayodhya in 1992, a defiant Kabir laid the foundation stone for the mosque at Rejinagar, creating a dust-up in state politics with elections due in less than six months.