Asaduddin Owaisi, the President of the All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) decided to move to the Election Commission of India (ECI) over denial of permission to hold a public meeting in the poll bound West Bengal.
On the 24th of February, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, denied permission to the AIMIM for the meeting.
Disappointed with the behavior of Ms. Banerjee and her Party, Mr. Owaisi on the 25th of February, decided to approach the ECI.
Mr. Owaisi said, “Why were we not allowed to hold a meeting at Metiaburz (in West Bengal)? We will go to Bengal. Our team is working there on the ground, and have identified candidate lists. The Congress made the mistake there too (of cancelling our rallies.)”
During a press conference on the 25th of February, Mr. Owaisi lashed out at the TMC Government in West Bengal and said, .“You are compelling us to approach the Election Commission to say that such and such police officer is not letting free and fair elections happen.” He even criticised Mamata Banerjee for calling the AIMIM the B team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP.) On this allegations Asaduddeen Owaisi asked whether he was responsible for the BJP winning 18 seats in the last (2019) general elections.
On the AIMIM winning corporator seats in the just concluded municipal body polls in Gujarat, Asaduddin Owaisi said that he is looking to fill a “very big political vacuum” in the state. “It is also our main political objective,” he said, hinting that AIMIM is likely to contest state elections in Gujarat as well.
Mr. Owaisi said, “There were some shortcomings/mistakes there. I spoke to corporators who won and lost. I told them to work on public issues and to show the difference between AJMIM and the Congress. Our alliance with Chotubhai Vasava with Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) will remain.”
After recent victory of AIMIM in Gujarat Civic Polls, the AIMIM is emerging as a vital Party outside homeland, Telangana.
It is expected that, in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, the AIMIM would be a tough competition for the TMC and the BJP in few constituencies.
The West Bengal Assembly elections are due in May 2021. However an official schedule of the elections are yet to be announced.
Stay tuned for further updates.
