TMC bagged Muslim votes but did nothing for community: Owaisi in Kolkata
Kolkata (PTI): Alleging that the TMC bagged Muslim votes but did nothing for the community, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's politics helped the BJP grow in West Bengal.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Owaisi claimed people of Bengal were suffocated, and his party has joined hands with Humayun Kabir's AJUP to provide the alternative they are looking for.
"Our alliance with Humayun Kabir is aimed at stopping the exploitation of weaker sections in West Bengal and empowering them," said the Hyderabad MP.
"Our alliance will also try to strengthen the political leadership of Muslims," he added.
Owaisi claimed development of minorities is a big issue in the state.
Asked whether his party's presence in West Bengal will help the BJP, he said, "People in a democracy are free to vote for the party of their choice."
Kabir, who floated the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) after being suspended by the TMC amid the controversy over his proposed Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad district, said the coalition will contest 182 seats in the assembly poll.
He claimed the coalition could emerge as a decisive player in government formation if the election produces a fractured mandate.
Polling for the 294-member assembly will be held on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
VIDEO | West Bengal polls: “People of Bengal suffocated, will provide alternative they're looking for”, says AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) after declaring alliance with Humayun Kabir.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 25, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/6NeXOiyykS
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Will continue to keep tab on development work in Bihar: Nitish to JD(U) MLAs
Patna (PTI): JD(U) president Nitish Kumar on Monday told party legislators that he will continue to keep a tab on the development work in Bihar despite having given up the chief minister's post a week ago.
Kumar addressed a meeting of the legislative party at 1, Anney Marg, which is the official residence of the chief minister and which the JD(U) supremo, now a Rajya Sabha MP, had occupied for nearly two decades.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, "Our party leader has said that except for sessions of Parliament, which would require his presence in Delhi, he will spend his maximum time in Bihar."
"Nitish Kumar told us that he will ensure that the good work done while he was in power continues under the new government, in which the JD(U) is an important partner. To keep a tab, he will tour the state in due course," Neeraj Kumar said.
The JD(U) spokesperson was asked about speculations that the meeting had been convened to decide on the role to be assigned to Nishant, the party supremo's son, who joined the JD(U) last month, but has declined to accept a ministerial berth in the Samrat Choudhary government.
"There is no confusion about the role of Nishant, who has been accepted by the party as the leader of the future. In any case, there was no discussion on him today," Neeraj Kumar said.
Nitish Kumar has been authorised by the legislators to decide on choosing the legislative party leader, he added.
Among those present at the meeting were Union minister and former JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' and Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav.
Interestingly, don turned politician Anant Kumar Singh, who represents Mokama assembly seat, claimed after the meeting that MLAs were asked by the supreme leader to try and win "200 seats in the next elections".
"Nitish Kumar ji told us that he will now be more easily available for party workers and general public. He also said that he will extensively tour the state and asked us to work hard so that the party wins 200 seats in the next elections", said Singh, who is often in news for putting his foot in the mouth.
The Bihar assembly is 243-strong and the JD(U)'s current tally is 85, four less than ally BJP, which is the single largest party.
The JD(U)'s best-ever performance was in 2010, when it had contested 142 seats and won 115 of these. It was also the highest tally for any single party since Bihar's truncation in 2000, until when Jharkhand was part of the state and assembly had 324 seats.
