Humayun Kabir unveils first list of 153 candidates; contests planned in 182 constituencies

Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party on Sunday announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections, unveiling the names of 153 nominees. The party has declared that it plans to contest a total of 182 seats in the election.

The list includes candidates for several key constituencies, including two of the state’s most closely watched seats—Nandigram and Bhabanipur. Shahidul Haque has been nominated from Nandigram, while Poonam Begum will contest from Bhabanipur.  Humayun Kabir himself will contest from two constituencies in Murshidabad district—Rejinagar and Nawda. Out of the 22 Assembly seats in the district, candidates have so far been announced for 10. In Raninagar, Yasir Haider, the former son-in-law of minister Firhad Hakim, has been nominated, while Pirzada Khoayeb Amin will contest from the Bharatpur seat vacated by Humayun Kabir.

The party said the names of candidates for the remaining seats in Kolkata will be announced on March 25, while the election manifesto will be released on March 28. According to party leaders, the manifesto will focus on issues such as healthcare, rising prices, law-and-order concerns and communal harmony. Meanwhile, political speculation continues over the Islampur seat in Uttar Dinajpur, where former Trinamool leader Abdul Karim Chowdhury—who was denied a ticket this time—may join Humayun Kabir’s party and potentially contest from the constituency.