After being arrested the day before, AJUP chief and Nowda MLA Humayun Kabir appeared in the media on Wednesday in an emotional state, hinting that he may retire from electoral politics and stating that the BJP would win the Muslim‑majority constituency of Rejinagar in Murshidabad district.
Kabir said he would not attend the assembly as long as Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari remained in office and apologized to the people of Nowda for his decision. He also expressed a desire to take voluntary retirement, citing disillusionment with the political system and the treatment he had received. The remarks came a day after he was taken into custody following a confrontation with police outside his party office during the high‑voltage polling in Rejinagar.
The arrest, which lasted nearly twelve hours, added drama to an already closely watched by‑poll. Kabir had won both Nowda and Rejinagar in the last assembly election but vacated the Rejinagar seat in accordance with the rules, prompting the by‑poll. His son, Golam Nabi Azad, is contesting as the AJUP candidate. The day’s events also included accusations that Kabir had used abusive language, attempted to influence voters and made provocative remarks, leading to his detention.
On Wednesday, Kabir shifted from a combative figure to a tear‑laden speaker, criticizing the police and administration and alleging that the electoral process in Rejinagar had not been fair. He declared that the BJP would win the seat, attributing the outcome to what he described as the administration’s role during polling. The results of the Rejinagar and Nandigram by‑polls are viewed as an early test for the BJP government and an opportunity for the opposition to challenge its hold, with vote counting scheduled for October 9.
