Newly floated Indian Secular Front party aims to be ‘kingmaker’ in Bengal Assembly election

Founder Siddiqui indicated that the rise of BJP in Bengal started after the TMC came to power in 2011

The Indian Secular Front (ISF) a newly formed political party ahead of the Assembly elections in West Bengal was founded with the declared aim of being a “king maker” in the state. Peerzada Abbas Siddiqui, an influential minority leader floated the party in January alleging that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) had done more harm than good to the Muslims in Bengal.

Siddiqui, the cleric of the prominent medieval Muslim shrine in Bengal, Furfura Sharif, has considerable influence over Muslims in the southern part of Bengal.

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As for the reason for floating the ISF, Siddiqui said "The main aim of launching the ISF is to ensure the development of the poor and to let them access the democratic rights provided by the Constitution.”

Siddiqui’s decision to float the ISF ahead of the Assembly elections resulted in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to accuse him of trying to benefit the BJP by splitting the minority votes. Denying the allegations he indicated that the rise of BJP in Bengal started after the TMC came to power in 2011.

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“Did BJP have any foothold in Bengal before 2011? So who is responsible for BJP’s rise in Bengal,” Siddiqui recently said.

Despite being a political greenhorn, the ISF had become a much sought after alliance partner. While the Left Front and Congress were trying to woo ISF into their alliance, the AIMIM was also keen on joining forces with Siddiqi’s party.

Speculation regarding an alliance between the ISF and the AIMIM started after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi met Siddiqui last month. Following the meeting, Owaisi said that his party was ready to work under the direction of Siddiqui in Bengal.

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However, the Left Front and Congress’ bid to rope in the ISF into their alliance seems to have created a hurdle in the path of the ISF and the AIMIM joining forces in Bengal as the both the AIMIM and Congress are averse to becoming part of the same alliance. Sources in both parties said that they would not be on the same platform with each other due to “political rivalry.”