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Candidate Dropped Over "Revealing" Photos Just Hours After Party Launch

Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir withdrew his new party's candidate for the Ballygunge seat merely 12 hours after announcing her, citing her social media photos as inappropriate. The candidate, Nisha Chatterjee, stated she was invited into politics and that both the nomination and withdrawal were hasty decisions by Kabir. Kabir asserted the photos made her unfit for the "sacred" state Assembly and pledged to field a Muslim candidate for the seat within a week. Chatterjee countered that the move amounted to an unjust censorship of a woman's personal freedom and behavior.

Key Points: MLA Withdraws Candidate Over Social Media Photos

  • Candidate withdrawn over social media photos
  • New party formed just hours prior
  • MLA calls photos "unfit" for Assembly
  • Candidate decries "hasty" decision and censorship
2 min read

Humayun Kabir withdraws his new party's Ballygunge seat candidate after launch

A new party's candidate was withdrawn within 12 hours after her social media photos were deemed "unfit" for the Assembly. The candidate calls it censorship.

"I think no one has the right to censor a woman's behaviour and freedom. - Nisha Chatterjee"

Kolkata, Dec 23

Nearly 12 hours after forming his new political party, suspended Trinamool Congress leader and MLA Humayun Kabir withdrew the name of one of his party's 10 candidates.

The name of the declared candidate for the Ballygunge Assembly constituency in Kolkata, Nisha Chatterjee, has been withdrawn on reports that her social media account is full of her photos wearing revealing clothes.

Therefore, after nearly 12 hours, Humayun Kabir announced that the Kolkata-based woman would no longer be the candidate for his newly-launched Janata Unnayan Party (JUP).

On Monday, Kabir, the MLA from Bharatpur, announced the formation of his new political outfit in Beldanga of Murshidabad district and simultaneously declared the names of potential candidates for the ten Assembly constituencies, of which Nisha Chatterjee was one among them.

Humayun Kabir announced that he would field Nisha Chatterjee as the candidate for the Ballygunge Assembly constituency. They even posed for photographs together on stage.

Nisha Chatterjee said that she was new to politics and until now had been involved in social service activities in West Bengal.

Humayun Kabir, whom she called a family friend, had invited her into politics.

However, she said that she never imagined that Humayun Kabir, the Bharatpur MLA, would make her a candidate for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

On the other hand, within hours of Humayun Kabir announcing Nisha Chaterjee as a candidate for the upcoming state Assembly elections, various photographs and videos of the latter started doing the rounds on social media.

Seeing these, Humayun Kabir changed his decision, adding that "her gestures on social media are not appropriate. They are unfit for a sacred place like the state Assembly. I will announce the name of a Muslim candidate for Ballygunge Assembly constituency within seven days."

Following the decision, Nisha Chatterjee said that both the announcement and withdrawal of her candidature were hasty decisions by MLA Humayun Kabir.

She said, "I didn't proactively apply to him to become a candidate. He (Humayun Kabir) himself made me a candidate. He cancelled my candidature in the exact same manner. I think no one has the right to censor a women's behaviour and freedom."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Nisha Chatterjee is absolutely right. No one has the right to censor a woman's behaviour or freedom. Her personal social media is her space. If the party had concerns about 'image', they should have discussed it privately before making her a public candidate. This knee-jerk reaction is shameful. đź‘Ž
S
Suresh O
The real story here is the comment about announcing a Muslim candidate within seven days. Seems the withdrawal was less about 'revealing clothes' and more about constituency demographics and vote bank politics. The reason given feels like an excuse.
A
Ananya R
Mixed feelings. While I support personal freedom, candidates for public office do represent the people. There is an expectation of a certain decorum. However, the way it was handled—announcing and withdrawing in 12 hours—shows terrible mismanagement. This new party looks chaotic already.
K
Karthik V
Humayun Kabir talks about the Assembly being a 'sacred place'. I wish our elected representatives would focus on keeping it sacred by not taking bribes, passing good laws, and working for development, rather than policing what women wear on their personal Instagram. Priorities are completely wrong.
M
Meera T
Feel very bad for Nisha Chatterjee. She was pulled into this by a so-called 'family friend' and then publicly humiliated within hours. This will deter other capable women from entering politics. Shame on Kabir for this drama. Hope she gets a proper apology.

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