Kolkata: In a major shift in West Bengal’s political landscape, the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) officially announced a formal alliance on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Addressing a joint press conference in Kolkata, AJUP founder Humayun Kabir and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed their intent to contest the upcoming high-stakes Assembly elections as a united front. The alliance aims to consolidate the minority vote, with the leaders scheduled to kick off their joint campaign with a massive rally in Behrampur on April 1.
Asaduddin Owaisi expressed confidence in the new partnership, noting that while the majority of seat-sharing arrangements have been finalized, discussions for a few remaining constituencies are still in progress. Owaisi emphasized that the primary objective of the alliance is to establish independent political leadership for the Muslim community in West Bengal. He argued that without such dedicated representation, the community has historically lagged behind in essential social and economic development indicators. “We aim to create a platform that ensures genuine representation and drives grassroots progress,” Owaisi stated during the briefing.
The alliance brings together two influential, albeit controversial, figures in the state’s minority politics. Humayun Kabir, a former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, formed the AJUP after being suspended from the ruling party for his polarizing campaign to construct a “new Babri Masjid” in Murshidabad. By joining forces with AIMIM, Kabir is positioning the AJUP as a formidable challenger to the TMC’s traditional hold over the state’s significant Muslim electorate. As the state prepares for the 2026 elections, this new third-front alliance is expected to create a multi-cornered contest, particularly in the minority-dominated districts of Malda, Murshidabad, and Uttar Dinajpur.
