Kolkata, April 10 – The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, announced on Friday its decision to withdraw from its previously announced alliance with former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir and the new political outfit floated by the latter for the upcoming two-phase Assembly polls in West Bengal.
AIMIM's decision comes after a video-cum-audio clip was released by the Trinamool Congress on Thursday, in which Kabir was reportedly seen making controversial statements with an unidentified person, hinting at making plots to divide minority votes in West Bengal, thereby benefiting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
AIMIM announced its decision to end an electoral alliance with Kabir on its official social media handle, X.
According to the statement, AIMIM contests elections with the sole aim of giving marginalized communities an independent political voice; however, amid the latest revelations over Kabir's statement, it has decided to withdraw from the electoral alliance with the latter.
AIMIM has also clarified that it will contest the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal independently and without any electoral understanding with any other political party.
"Humayun Kabir's revelations have shown how vulnerable the Muslims of Bengal are. AIMIM cannot associate with any statements where the integrity of Muslims is brought into question. As of today, AIMIM has withdrawn its alliance with Kabir's party. Bengal's Muslims are one of the poorest, neglected, and oppressed communities. Despite decades of secular rule, nothing has been done for them. AIMIM's policy to contest elections in any state is to give the marginalized communities an independent political voice. We will be contesting the Bengal elections INDEPENDENTLY and will have no alliance with any party going forward," the social media statement issued by AIMIM read.
On Thursday, Trinamool Congress accused Kabir of striking a Rs 1,000 crore deal with the BJP to divide minority votes in those West Bengal Assembly constituencies where his candidates are contesting in the forthcoming polls in alliance with AIMIM.
Trinamool Congress also released a purported clip where Kabir was reportedly heard conversing with an unidentified person on these lines.
The allegation from Trinamool Congress, however, drew a swift rebuttal from Kabir, who said the clip released by the Trinamool was a fake one and also threatened to sue Trinamool Congress for making such reportedly baseless allegations against him.
