Bengal polls: AIMIM announces alliance with Humayun Kabir’s AJUP
Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has announced alliance with Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.
Humayun Kabir, a suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Bharatpur in Murshidabad, launched AJUP in December 2025 after being expelled for “anti-party activities.” His suspension followed controversy over laying the foundation stone for a Babri Masjid replica in Beldanga on December 6, the anniversary of the 1992 demolition.
Kabir has since positioned himself as a prominent Muslim voice in Bengal politics and has expressed ambitions to emerge as a “kingmaker” in the 2026 elections.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has been steadily expanding its electoral footprint beyond its traditional stronghold of Telangana. The party positions itself as a political voice for Muslims, Dalits, and backward classes, often contesting independently or entering selective alliances to consolidate minority votes.
In recent years, AIMIM has recorded notable gains in local and assembly elections, particularly in Muslim-concentrated regions. Its most significant success came in the Maharashtra municipal elections, where the party won around 121–125 wards across multiple civic bodies, marking a sharp rise from its previous tally of 56 seats.
In the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, AIMIM retained a strong presence in the Seemanchal region, winning five seats and performing competitively in several others.
West Bengal has now emerged as AIMIM’s newest major battleground.
The 294-member West Bengal Assembly will go to polls in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.
Meanwhile, the alliance has drawn criticism from several opposition leaders, who argue that such a tie-up could divide minority votes and weaken “secular” parties, potentially benefiting the BJP. TMC MP Saugata Roy described the development as “bad,” claiming AIMIM would have little electoral impact but could split votes.
Congress leaders also voiced concerns, with Manickam Tagore alleging attempts to weaken secular forces.
