Kolkata, 25 February (H.S.): The office of the State Chief Electoral Officer has recommended to the Election Commission of India the registration of suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir’s newly formed political outfit, the Janata Unnayan Party.

According to sources in the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, all procedural formalities required for party registration have been completed and a formal recommendation has been forwarded to the Commission in New Delhi. If no objections are raised and the submitted documents are found to be in order, the registration may be approved within the next fifteen days.

Following approval, Humayun Kabir will be eligible to apply for an official election symbol for his party. The sitting MLA from Bharatpur in Murshidabad district had announced the formation of his new party on December 22 last year. The announcement was made at Khagrupada More in Beldanga, where he also unveiled the party’s manifesto.

At the time, Kabir had expressed his intention to contest the upcoming Assembly elections from two constituencies—Rezinagar, which neighbours Bharatpur, and Beldanga. Explaining the rationale behind the party’s name, he had stated that he did not wish to include the words “Congress” or “Trinamool” in it. He had claimed that the people of Murshidabad had completely rejected the Congress and were waiting to remove the Trinamool Congress from power.

Kabir had said that the name Janata Unnayan Party would enable ordinary people to identify easily with the organisation, describing it as a party focused on the development of common citizens.

Regarding the election symbol, he recalled that he had contested as an Independent candidate in 2016 with the “table” symbol, which would be his first preference for the new party. If that is not approved by the Commission, he plans to apply for a “pair of roses” as an alternative and consider other options if necessary.

He also announced that the party flag would feature three colours yellow, green and white.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh