India, Dec. 12 -- The slow-burn drama over Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir's explosive statements-labelled communal and inflammatory by his party-finally reached a climax last week when he was suspended by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Baharampur.

Kabir's latest stint in the TMC was cut short allegedly due to his insistence on building a "Babri Masjid-modelled mosque" in Muslim-majority Beldanga. Within hours of his suspension, the Bharatpur MLA announced he would launch his own party on December 22 and contest in 135 of 294 assembly seats in the 2026 polls.

"I will give a befitting reply in the next assembly elections. It is not my responsibility to assess whether my decision will help TMC or BJP," said Kabir...