Is AIMIM Preparing to Contest Minority-Dominated Seats in the 2026 Bengal Assembly Elections?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- AIMIM is focusing on strengthening its organizational presence in minority-dominated districts.
- The party aims to field candidates from all constituencies in Malda.
- Key campaign issues include corruption and social infrastructure.
- AIMIM is strategically planning to attract voters from rival parties.
- The party is also considering candidacies in Murshidabad.
Kolkata, Nov 19 (NationPress) The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, is actively working to bolster its organizational presence in the minority-rich districts of Malda and Murshidabad, gearing up for the 2026 Assembly elections.
The party is placing a significant emphasis on Malda. AIMIM's state leadership has begun revealing the names of block presidents and vice-presidents in Malda as part of the campaign initiation.
This initiative aims to nominate candidates from strategic minority-majority constituencies within the state for the vital upcoming Assembly elections.
According to AIMIM's Malda district president, Rezayul Karim, the party's leadership is optimistic about presenting candidates in all 12 Assembly constituencies in the district. He noted that the issues to be addressed during the campaign will encompass both macro-level state concerns and micro-level district issues.
At the state level, the party plans to spotlight the rampant corruption within the current Trinamool Congress-led government, while district-specific concerns will focus on the inadequate social infrastructure in Malda, Karim explained.
He expressed confidence that the party could attract voters from rival parties in Malda.
In addition to Malda, a party leader indicated that AIMIM is also considering contesting from select Assembly seats in the adjacent and minority-populated district of Murshidabad. However, the precise number of constituencies in Murshidabad where AIMIM will nominate candidates for 2026 is still undecided.
Previously, the leadership of the Trinamool Congress has criticized AIMIM, claiming that it serves as a tool for the BJP by fragmenting minority votes.
Nevertheless, state AIMIM leader Nabiul Ansari dismissed these accusations, asserting that the party only fields candidates in constituencies where they see a viable chance of success, a strategy that will continue into the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.