The state assembly elections are just around the corner. And Asaduddin Owaisi's political party 'All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen' (MIM) wants to reap 'benefits' in the upcoming polls. Is MIM targeting Malda for this purpose? Owaisi's party has opened more than 20 offices in this minority-dominated district. And this 'meteoric rise' of MIM in Malda has not escaped the attention of political parties. Congress has claimed that MIM's expansion in the state is through a 'setting' with BJP.
The target is to cut minority votes and benefit the saffron camp. However, BJP has dismissed the opposition's claims. MIM leaders in the district claim they are for the people. The 'setting theory' is baseless. And amid this political war of words, Asaduddin Owaisi is set to visit Malda in January, according to party sources.
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MIM may field candidates in 10 out of 12 seats in Malda district in the upcoming assembly elections, sources suggest. Owaisi's 'soldiers' are already seen becoming active in the district. Leaders of his party have drawn attention by staging protests in front of the Malda district magistrate's office over Waqf issues.
Rezaul Karim, MIM's Malda district president, says, "20 party offices have been opened in Malda district. There is a rights march program in the district this month." Asaduddin Owaisi is coming to Malda and Murshidabad in the first or second week of January. The decision on how many seats the party will contest will be based on discussions, this leader informs. However, he claims their party is targeting eight to ten seats.
Significantly, when Trinamool-BJP were vocal in criticizing Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir over building a 'Babri Masjid' in Murshidabad district, this MIM leader supported him saying, "He is building the mosque with his own money. There should be no problem with this."
But why is Malda MIM's target? According to political circles, Malda district has a total of 12 assembly constituencies. Among these, MIM contested only the Maltipara seat in the last assembly elections. On the other hand, among the 12 constituencies, the Hindu-dominated Gazole, Englishbazar, Purana Malda, and Habibpur seats went to BJP. Trinamool captured the minority-dominated areas of Harischandrapur, Chanchal, Maltipara, Sujapur and Mothabari seats.
Trinamool captured the Baishnabnagar, Manikchak and Ratua seats where the demographic distribution of Hindus and minorities is almost half-half. Trinamool got a total of eight seats in Malda district. Four went to BJP. This time, experts believe MIM wants to make Malda its bullseye by targeting minority votes.
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However, district Trinamool Congress president Abdur Rahim Bakshi is unwilling to worry about MIM's rise. He says, "Leftover food is thrown in the dustbin. Even if put on a plate, no one eats it. MIM is also rising from the dustbin. The people here are with Mamata Banerjee. And that's why MIM won't survive. Those who are holding flags are getting financial assistance."
On the other hand, district Congress vice-president Abdul Hannan has raised the 'setting theory'. He attacks MIM saying, "They have taken money from BJP and cut Muslim votes, which is beyond imagination." However, the district BJP leadership has dismissed all these setting theories. Malda district BJP leader Amlan Bhaduri says, "BJP fights on its own strength. No one else's assistance is needed. A false narrative is being created. Which is being created by Trinamool."
