West Bengal Assembly election 2026: AIMIM breaks short-lived alliance with Humayun Kabir’s party after TMC 'sting'

AIMIM says it cannot be associated with any statements that question the integrity of Muslims; party to contest polls independently

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has ended its short-lived alliance with Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) in West Bengal just days ahead of the Assembly election. The AIMIM on Friday announced that it will contest the election independently.

The development comes a day after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) released a purported sting video allegedly featuring Kabir making controversial claims regarding Muslims in West Bengal and his alleged links with the BJP.

In a post on X, the AIMIM said the revelations had shown how vulnerable Bengal’s Muslims are. The party said it cannot be associated with any statements that questioned the integrity of Muslims.

Announcing an immediate end to the alliance with Kabir’s party, the AIMIM, which is lead by Asaduddin Owaisi, said it would now fight the election independently in West Bengal. The party said it would not enter into any alliance going forward.

Highlighting that Muslims have remained marginalised socio-economically in West Bengal, the AIMIM said the community had been among the “poorest, neglected and oppressed” despite decades of secular governance in the State.

The AIMIM said its decision to contest elections in any State was aimed at ensuing the "marginalised communities have an independent political voice".

At a press conference on Thursday, the TMC shared the video in which Kabir is purportedly seen making claims of proximity with the BJP's Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and demanded an ED probe into the matter.

In the video, Kabir was also purportedly heard saying that he was ready to go to "any extent" to unseat West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In the video, Kabir, who founded the AJUP days after he was suspended by the TMC late last year, is also purportedly heard claiming that he had communication with the Prime Minister's Office and was advised to coordinate with leaders from other BJP-ruled States, according to a PTI report.

The video also purportedly captures Kabir saying that his strategy revolves around diverting minority votes away from the ruling Trinamool Congress, suggesting that such a shift could benefit the BJP electorally.