A political controversy has intensified in poll-bound West Bengal after Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir alleged that a recent “sting video” controversy is part of a larger political conspiracy against him.
Speaking to reporters in Islampur, Kabir claimed that the circulation of a December 19 video during the peak of the election season was deliberate and politically motivated. He questioned why the clip was being circulated months later and suggested that it was aimed at damaging his political image ahead of the assembly elections.
Kabir further alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress leadership maintains indirect understanding with rival political forces, and claimed that multiple groups were working together to target him. He said he would challenge the matter in court and strongly denied the authenticity of the viral video, calling it fabricated and AI-generated.
The controversy escalated after the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) announced that it was withdrawing from its alliance with Kabir’s party. The decision came after the emergence of the purported video, which triggered concerns within the party over its content and implications. AIMIM stated that it could not continue association in light of questions being raised over the integrity of statements linked to the episode.
Kabir, however, avoided direct comments on the breakdown of the alliance when asked by reporters.
The issue has also drawn sharp political reactions, with Trinamool Congress leaders dismissing Kabir’s claims and accusing him of misleading voters. A TMC MLA described him as politically unreliable and alleged that he was attempting to create divisions in the run-up to the elections.
Kabir has remained a controversial figure in West Bengal politics following his earlier association with the TMC and subsequent expulsion. He later floated his own regional party and has since been at the center of multiple political disputes.
The West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting of votes set for May 4.
