NEW DELHI, March 23: Opposition leaders on Monday 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’s Asaduddin Owaisi has tied up with Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) for the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly polls. Polling for the 294-member Assembly is scheduled on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes on May 4.
TMC MP Saugata Roy called it a “bad development” and said it 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,” Roy told reporters in the Parliament House complex.
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 focus 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 said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi alleged that AIMIM often ends up helping 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 claimed.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji labelled the AIMIM as the BJP’s “B-team”, alleging that it participates in elections only to benefit the saffron party by dividing the opposition’s vote share. (PTI)
