Kolkata, March 25: Seeking to reshape West Bengal’s minority electoral arithmetic ahead of the assembly polls, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday accused the ruling TMC of “using Muslim votes but doing nothing for the community”, while pitching his party’s alliance with Humayun Kabir’s AJUP as an alternative political platform.
Addressing a press conference here alongside Kabir, the chief of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), the Hyderabad MP said their association seeks to build an “independent political leadership” for Muslims in the state. He argued that the community, despite constituting nearly 30 per cent of Bengal’s population, continues to lag behind in political and socio-economic representation. “The biggest issue in West Bengal is Muslim empowerment. It is a big issue for us. The main issue is Muslim political empowerment through a democratic process. We have confidence in that process, and we will fight together,” Owaisi said.
Taking direct aim at the ruling party, the AIMIM chief alleged that the TMC had reduced Muslims to a “reliable vote bank” while “failing” to address their core concerns. (PTI)
