Alleging that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) bagged Muslim votes but did nothing for the community, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s politics helped the BJP grow in West Bengal.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Mr. Owaisi claimed people of Bengal were suffocated, and his party has joined hands with Humayun Kabir’s AJUP to provide the alternative they are looking for and create an independent political leadership for Muslims.
Assembly Elections LIVE – March 25, 2026
“Nearly 5 lakh OBC certificates were cancelled. Among those, many belonged to Muslims. Is that not an issue?” he asked.
“Muslims constitute nearly 30% of the population here. What is their representation in government employment? Only 7%. How many Muslim children are outside school? How many Muslim boys and girls are unable to complete graduation,” he asked.
Mr. Owaisi alleged that symbolic gestures had not translated into real development for the community in the State.
“Coming to offer prayers on the day of Eid, does that fill my stomach? Does it light a lamp in my house? Does it ensure my children get a good future?” he asked.
The Hyderabad MP claimed that Mamata Banerjee’s politics had indirectly helped the BJP expand its footprint in the State.
“When did the BJP win three MLAs in Bengal? In 2016, right? Now they have 77 MLAs. Did I make them win? Am I so powerful that I made the BJP grow? The BJP’s growth is happening in front of your eyes,” he said.
Mr. Owaisi alleged AIMIM’s alliance with AJUP is aimed at stopping the exploitation of weaker sections in the State and empowering them.
The tie-up would also strengthen the political leadership of Muslims in the state, he said.
Mr. Kabir, who floated the AJUP after being suspended from the TMC amid controversy over his proposal for a Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad district, said the alliance plans to contest 182 seats in the 294-member assembly.
He claimed the alliance could emerge as a decisive factor if the elections throw up a fractured mandate.
“This alliance will never break. Whatever decision my elder brother (Owasi) takes and whatever direction he gives, I will follow that in the coming days,” Mr. Kabir said.
Mr. Owaisi argued that States where Muslims lack independent political leadership tend to have poor development indicators.
“In my opinion, all empirical data, whether from the West Bengal government, the Government of India, or the NSSO, show that in states where the Muslim minority does not have independent political leadership, their social, economic and human development indicators are very poor,” he said.
“There is an organic connection between independent political leadership and socio-economic development,” he added.
Mr. Owaisi alleged that arsenic-contaminated groundwater has affected Malda and Murshidabad districts despite years of electoral support for the ruling TMC.
“Go to Malda and Murshidabad. The underground water there contains arsenic levels worse than the parameters set by the World Health Organization. These problems are directly linked with political leadership,” he said.
Mr. Owaisi also dismissed the argument that Muslims were adequately represented within the TMC.
“Some people say there are many Muslims in the TMC. Yes, there are, but that is anonymous leadership. What we want is leadership with a voice and a name,” he said, invoking BR Ambedkar.
The AIMIM chief also referred to Banerjee’s earlier political positions.
“When Gujarat was burning, with whom were they sitting? With whom were they sitting?” he asked, referring to the TMC’s past association with the NDA.
He further claimed to have witnessed Banerjee raising the issue of infiltration in Parliament during the mid-2000s.
“There is a video, go and see it. Between 2004 and 2009, I saw Mamata Banerjee throwing a file on infiltration on the table of the deputy speaker,” he claimed.
Recalling the anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram in 2007, Mr. Owaisi said he had personally visited the area during that time.
“Do you know who took us from the airport to Nandigram? Suvendu (Adhikari). We had to travel by motorcycle and even jump off several times because the Left cadres were throwing bombs,” he claimed.
“If I were so pure and good then, how did I suddenly become bad today,” he asked.
Taking aim at both the TMC and the BJP, Mr. Owaisi said Muslims in the State felt politically trapped.
“Our situation is like an Urdu saying, ‘phans gayi Razia gundo mein’. We are trapped between two sides,” he said.
“People are feeling suffocated in the present political environment. They do not have a clear and strong option, and that is what we are going to present,” he added.
Polling for the 294-member assembly is scheduled on April 23 and April 29, with counting on May 4.
Published – March 25, 2026 02:36 pm IST
