Kolkata, 13 December (H.S.): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen - Except for political experts, many Bengalis may not even know the name of this political party. However, recently, it has been observed that AIMIM workers are reaching every village in Bengal as soon as dusk falls. This political party from the city of Nizam is entering every household in Bengal and collecting news of happiness and sorrow.
Formed before independence, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen later added 'All India' to its name. Despite its long political presence, the number of MPs remains the same. However, no party has been able to defeat Asaduddin Owaisi in five consecutive Lok Sabha elections since 2004. For a long time, the party lacked much relevance outside Hyderabad. But times are changing. AIMIM is gradually expanding its reach. Having crossed Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, the party has now reached the borders of Bengal.
In the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections, Owaisi's party won five seats in Purnia and Kishanganj districts. A close look at the map reveals that Purnia or Kishanganj are not far from Islampur, Raiganj, or Kaliaganj in Bengal. Starting with just one seat in 2015, Purnia and Kishanganj winning five seats each twice in a row has surprised many.
Now, the party's next target is Bengal. Here, the party has begun building its organization from the grassroots level. Booth-based organizations are being formed.
A few months before the 2021 elections, Asaduddin Owaisi visited Furfura Sharif and spoke with Abbas Siddiqui. At that time, the Trinamool supremo herself expressed doubts that the Hyderabad party would cut into Muslim votes. However, Asaduddin Owaisi's party did not gain much in the Bengal elections that year. However, there were reports of a quiet reorganization.
AIMIM played no significant role in 2021. But this time, with a completely new strategy, AIMIM is expanding its footprint in Bengal. As soon as darkness falls, AIMIM members are appearing in every neighborhood. Sitting at tea stalls, they explain to minority families how the TMC is using them like a talisman. AIMIM members are stirring up anger against the Trinamool Congress. The Muslim community is particularly resentful of the TMC for implementing the Waqf Act. After initially opposing it, AIMIM is questioning why Mamata Banerjee finally implemented the Waqf Act and issued a notice.
The number of people joining AIMIM has increased recently. Recently, in Sekendra area of Raghunathganj in Murshidabad, several workers were seen leaving the Trinamool Congress and joining the AIMIM. A similar scenario was seen in the Kumarganj assembly constituency of South Dinajpur. Many people left the CPM and Trinamool Congress and joined the AIMIM.
Similar scenarios are emerging in Malda. In Chanchal alone, over 300 Trinamool workers have joined AIMIM. In Ratua, Harishchandrapur, and Malatipur combined, over a thousand have joined AIMIM.
Despite its small number of workers, AIMIM's presence is evident from the Trinamool supremo's remarks. Recently, Mamata Banerjee, speaking at a public rally, declared, A new Muslim party has emerged. This, in turn, is the Muslim minority vote that the ruling party is concerned about.
According to the 2011 census, the Muslim population in West Bengal was 28 percent, which currently stands at around 30 percent. Political analysts say that the majority of these minority voters vote for Trinamool.
Notably, in the last Panchayat elections, an AIMIM candidate won in Siteshnagar, Lalgola. He remains with AIMIM. In the 2021 assembly elections in Malda, Trinamool won eight seats, while the BJP won four. But the calculations changed in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In that election, the BJP was ahead in six seats, and the Congress in six.
Here, in Murshidabad, another calculation has begun. If all goes well, Humayun Kabir will announce a new party within 10-12 days. He has declared that he will field candidates in all the minority-dominated seats in the state. The name of the Hyderabad MP is also being mentioned. Humayun has clearly stated, I will announce a new party. I will field candidates in 135 seats. I will form an alliance with Owaisi.
The AIMIM is positioning its pawns based on two districts, but listening to the leaders, it seems they have done all their homework for Bengal. According to Tonik Khan, a member of the AIMIM state committee, We will field candidates in all the seats. We will fight like a tiger against a tiger.
Malda Trinamool District President Abdul Rahim Bakshi, without naming any party, said, You are joining hands with the BJP and meeting in secret locations in the dark of the night to wipe out the Trinamool from the heart of Malda. We will smash to pieces the skull that harbors such thoughts. Meanwhile, BJP State President Shamik Bhattacharya said that divisive politics will not work in Bengal.
The question arises: are words like division and polarization becoming more and more associated with Bengal politics?
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
