Calcutta: The Trinamul Congress on Monday brought together almost the entire West Bengal leadership of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), including its state “face”, Sheik Anwar Pasha, into its fold, dealing a heavy blow to the Asaduddin Owai’s team to stop him by snatching the Muslim vote bank from his command in next year’s Assembly elections in West Bengal.
With an eye toward 30 percent of the Muslim population in the state, the TMC had begun cultivating Mr. Pasha, who was the head of AIMIM in the state, and 17 other senior officials in silence in the wake of the victory of AIMIM in five seats in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly Polls. Other leaders who left AIMIM and joined TMC include Murshid Ahmed, Sheikh Hasibul Islam, Jamshed Ahmed, Intekhab Alam, Abul Kashem, Syed Rahaman, and Anarul Mondal.
At the Trinamul Bhawan in the city, State Minister Bratya Basu, sitting next to Mr. Pasha, said: “He was the face of AIMIM and its mainstay here. Avoiding communal and divisive politics, however, he and others se united our party in attracting our supreme party and CM Mamata Banerjee’s vision for peace and development. “
Criticizing Owaisi, Pasha claimed: “A section of the people is leading our country down the path of destruction by abusing our faith. Many powers, including those who wear saffron or green, are looking at Bengal. They are trying to create a division. AIMIM played a role in polarizing the votes in Bihar, which helped the BJP form the government there. But it will not happen in Bengal. “
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