Kolkata, 01 April (H.S.): Asaduddin Owaisi, chief of the All India Majlis‑e‑Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on Wednesday alleged that the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other political parties in West Bengal have used Muslims merely as a vote bank without ensuring their real development.
Addressing an election rally in Nowada in Murshidabad district in support of candidates of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) led by Humayun Kabir, Owaisi claimed that the Muslim community has been voting for the Indian National Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front, and the TMC for the past five decades, but their socio-economic condition has not improved significantly.
He said AIMIM has joined hands with Kabir to ensure greater political representation for Muslims in West Bengal and to work towards their actual development. Owaisi also expressed confidence that this political understanding would pose a challenge to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party in the upcoming Assembly elections.
“The time has come for the Muslim community to elect leaders who can ensure their economic progress,” he said.
Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
