Mamata did nothing for Muslims in West Bengal, says Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) started his campaign for the West Bengal Assembly election by addressing a public meeting at Naoda in Murshidabad with his ally, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) leader Humayun Kabir.

Accusing Trinamool Congress chairperson and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of doing nothing for the Muslims in the State, Mr. Owaisi said the community was fighting to create a Muslim leadership in West Bengal.

“We want our rights. We want participation. We will not bow our heads in front of Mamata (Banerjee). We will not be afraid of (Narendra) Modi,” the AIMIM leader said. “Remember, there is no difference between Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi. They are like brother and sister. The Muslims of Bengal want to free themselves from the fear of the brother and sister,” he said.

Addressing the gathering of thousands of supporters, Mr. Owaisi said he and Mr. Kabir will also fight the 2029 Lok Sabha polls together.

“You had voted for other parties in the past. This time, vote in favour of your brother Kabir and his party and the AIMIM candidates who will be fielded as part of the alliance to consolidate the entire Muslim vote and expose the hypocrisy and nexus between the Trinamool and the BJP,” he told the gathering.

The Hyderabad MP said that Muslims form about 30% of the population in West Bengal but the presence of the community in government jobs is about seven per cent. “The time has come to stop the exploitation of Muslims,” he said.

Mr. Kabir is contesting from the Naoda Assembly constituency. The MLA had launched the AJUP after he was suspended from the Trinamool in 2025, when he announced plans to construct a “Babri Masjid” in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.

Speaking at the meeting, he said the “overwhelming presence” of members of the community at the rally was indicative of the disillusionment and anger towards the Trinamool.

Mr Kabir said the alliance plans to contest 182 of the total 294 seats, and “will teach both the Trinamool and the BJP a lesson they deserve”.

Since 2011, the Trinamool Congress under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership has held the support of Muslims that comprise 27% of the electorate. There are 47 Muslim candidates in its list of 291 nominees announced so far. There are about 80 to 90 constituencies where Muslims can determine the poll outcome.

The election to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.