West Bengal Assembly polls 2026: AIMIM to ally to Humayun Kabir’s AJUP
The Hindu
AIMIM partners with Humayun Kabir’s AJUP for West Bengal Assembly polls, fielding candidates in key constituencies for 2026 elections.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)leader Asaduddin Owaisi has announced that his party will contest the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections in alliance with Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP).
The announcement assumes significance as it indicates a new political grouping of minority forces in West Bengal. Mr. Kabir, a former Trinamool Congress MLA has gained prominence in central Bengal particularly Murshidabad district over his calls to construct a mosque styled on the lines of Babri Masjid. He had floated his outfit AJUP in December 2025, after being expelled from Trinamool Congress.
Mr. Owaisi made the announcement of going with AJUP on Sunday (March 22, 2026) in Hyderabad. He went on to accuse West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of doing injustice to Muslims in the state on several counts.
On Sunday (March 22), Mr. Kabir held a press conference in Murshidabad where he announced names of candidates contesting on 149 seats, including candidates for high-profile Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies. At Bhabanipur AJUP has fielded Poonam Begum, while Shahidul Haque is the party candidate from Nandigram
The AJUP president will be contesting from two constituencies in Murshidabad—Rejinagar and Naoda. Peerzada Khoayeb Amin has been fielded from the Bharatpur constituency vacated by Humayun Kabir. Yasir Haider, the former son-in-law of state minister and Trinamool leader and Minister Firhad Hakim, has been fielded from the Raninagar constituency.
Mr. Kabir has held talks with Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Secular Front on seat sharing in the upcoming polls, but could not reach a consensus. The CPI(M) led Left front has allied with ISF and other left parties like CPI(Marxist- Leninist) Liberation for the upcoming polls. The Congress party has decided to go alone in the elections.
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