Kolkata: The tie-up between Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) for the upcoming assembly elections has drawn reactions from sections of the Muslim community, including civil society members and religious figures who cautioned voters against supporting the alliance, alleging it could split Muslim votes in a state where the community is influential in over 100 assembly seats.“The alliance is communal and unholy. Both Asaduddin Owaisi and Humayun Kabir are the B and C teams of the BJP. Voters must be cautious of such parties that are trying to vitiate the atmosphere in the state and trying to provide a benefit to BJP. Humayun Kabir was a BJP candidate in the 2019 general elections. In many other states, Owaisi’s party’s performance has benefited BJP,” said Abdul Aziz, secretary of the Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity, Milli Ittehad Parishad. Syed Sakib Molla, part of an imam association in Kolkata, said, “Their only objective is to divide Muslim votes and help BJP. But historically, Muslims in Bengal have shown that they do not vote for self-proclaimed Muslim parties.”Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “Any anti-BJP vote that does not strengthen Mamata Banerjee or Trinamool will be a waste.” Left Front chairman Biman Bose said, “It will be seen in the upcoming days when the election is over and the report (result) is released; we will see then.”(With agency inputs)
