Kolkata: Suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir said he will launch a new party that will focus on Muslim voters in West Bengal. He said he has spoken with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and described their conversation as a friendly exchange. Kabir told reporters that Owaisi gave him his word that he would be the Hyderabad leader’s counterpart in Bengal.
Kabir said he plans to visit Kolkata on December 10 to form his committee and will launch his party on December 22. He said he expects a large turnout. He added that he intends to contest 135 seats in the next assembly election and aims to change the political landscape by appealing to Muslim voters who form 27 per cent of the population in the state. He said he believes he will reduce the influence of the Trinamool Congress among Muslim voters.
Trinamool suspended Kabir after he proposed building a replica of the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad district. He said he is in touch with AIMIM leaders and expects to contest the election with them. AIMIM has not commented on his plans. Owaisi told NDTV earlier that he has not yet made a decision on contesting in Bengal and said it is too early.
AIMIM contested seven seats in the 2021 Bengal assembly election and did not win any. The party saw stronger results in Bihar. It retained five seats in 2020 and secured more votes than the winning margin in nine constituencies. Analysts in Bengal say a new alliance could influence outcomes by shifting Muslim votes or by prompting a consolidation of Hindu votes. Some opposition parties call AIMIM the BJP’s B Team. Owaisi has dismissed the charge.
