AIMIM and AJUP Forge Electoral Alliance for West Bengal Assembly Elections
In a significant political development in Kolkata, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir formally announced their alliance on Wednesday for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections. The two leaders revealed that they have nearly finalized seat-sharing arrangements and will jointly address at least 20 rallies across the state before polling commences.
Campaign Strategy and Symbol Details
The alliance's campaign is scheduled to begin on April 1 in Beharampore, marking the start of an intensive electoral push. Addressing a joint press conference in Kolkata, Humayun Kabir confirmed that both parties will contest the elections using the single poll symbol of a whistle. "He is like my elder brother. We will contest elections together," Kabir stated, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the partnership. He added that candidate announcements from both sides would be made shortly.
The campaign itinerary will cover multiple key regions, including:
- Murshidabad
- Malda
- Parts of north Bengal
- Birbhum
- Uttar Dinajpur
- Asansol
- Kolkata
Owaisi's Critique of Trinamool Congress
Asaduddin Owaisi used the platform to launch a sharp critique of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), indirectly referencing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent visit to Red Road during Eid prayers. "Offering dua during Eid prayers is not going to put food on my plate, light up my house and provide for my child's education. Trinamool has taken Muslim votes but has done nothing for them on the ground," Owaisi asserted, highlighting what he described as unfulfilled promises to the Muslim community.
Owaisi presented statistical data to underscore his arguments, noting that Muslims constitute nearly 30 percent of West Bengal's population but only 7 percent of government employment. He raised concerns about educational disparities, questioning how many Muslim children are out of school or unable to complete graduation. Additionally, he pointed to the cancellation of approximately 5 lakh OBC certificates, many of which belonged to Muslims, as evidence of systemic issues.
"The biggest issue in Bengal is Muslim empowerment. We will fight the election on that issue. Every government data, survey and statistics points that states where there is no Muslim leadership, all lifestyle indicators are bad for Muslims," Owaisi declared, framing the alliance's core agenda.
Ambitions for Chief Minister's Post
In a bold statement, Owaisi indicated that the alliance would not settle for symbolic power-sharing positions. "Here I would disagree with Humayun bhai over the deputy CM's post, which is as useless as the sixth finger. We will stake claim to the CM's chair," he stated, signaling their aspiration for the chief minister's position rather than accepting subordinate roles. This remark underscores the alliance's confidence and strategic ambition in the electoral contest.
The formation of this alliance introduces a new dynamic into West Bengal's political landscape, potentially reshaping voter alignments and campaign narratives as the state approaches the assembly elections.
