New Delhi: Opposition leaders on Monday, March 23, criticised the alliance between the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir, saying such moves could divide votes and weaken “secular parties” ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has partnered with Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) for the high-stakes West Bengal polls. Voting for the 294-member Assembly is scheduled on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes on May 4.
TMC MP Saugata Roy called the alliance a “bad development” that may “isolate Muslim masses”. “Owaisi’s outfit is actually helping the BJP. But it will not have any impact. They do not have strength and will not get votes,” he said.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that “some people have taken a contract to weaken the secular forces.” Another Congress MP, Ujjwal Raman Singh, said forming alliances is a political choice but stressed that the priority should remain on defeating communal forces. “Whether someone forms an alliance with someone else is their own matter. But defeating communal forces is our goal, and for this the Congress party will continue to work consistently,” he added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi claimed that AIMIM frequently ends up aiding the BJP. “Whenever the BJP is in crisis, it calls the AIMIM, which is on its speed dial. The party invites them to come and participate and help it win,” she alleged.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji labelled AIMIM as the BJP’s “B-team”, accusing it of contesting elections primarily to benefit the saffron party by splitting the opposition’s vote share. “This has been happening everywhere. Wherever AIMIM fields candidates, it ends up benefiting the BJP. In many states, people from their own community choose not to support them and instead vote for the party that is more likely to win and defeat the BJP,” she said.
“In Bengal, people chose Mamata Banerjee and even members of the Muslim community supported her because she could win and defeat the BJP. AIMIM’s participation cuts votes, which in turn benefits the BJP significantly. That is why we see AIMIM as the BJP’s ‘B team’,” Maji added.
With PTI inputs