The West Bengal unit of Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has expressed openness to a potential electoral tie-up with suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. In an exclusive interview with NDTV on December 12, 2025, AIMIM's State Unit Chief Imran Solanki revealed ongoing discussions, stating that Kabir had initiated contact due to Owaisi's national prominence among minority communities. "I have spoken to Humayun Kabir. He wants an alliance with AIMIM... We also want to ally with him on some seats. The final decision will be taken by Asaduddin Owaisi," Solanki said, emphasizing the party's intent to mount a robust challenge in minority-dominated constituencies across the state.

Humayun Kabir, the Bharatpur MLA from Murshidabad district, was suspended from the TMC on December 4, 2025, amid accusations of communal politics following his controversial initiative to lay the foundation for a mosque styled after the Babri Masjid in Beldanga on December 6. Kabir, a vocal critic of the TMC's local leadership in Murshidabad, has since announced plans to launch his own political party on December 22, 2025, positioning himself as a prominent minority leader. Earlier reports indicated Kabir's enthusiasm for an alliance with AIMIM, claiming discussions with Owaisi and targeting over 100 seats jointly, but national AIMIM spokespersons had previously distanced the party, labeling Kabir as aligned with BJP interests and ruling out cooperation due to ideological differences.

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Solanki's remarks signal a possible shift at the state level, with AIMIM viewing a limited seat-sharing arrangement as strategically beneficial in districts like Murshidabad, Malda, and Uttar Dinajpur, where Muslims form a significant electorate. The party, which has been expanding its organizational base in West Bengal since early 2025, plans to contest extensively in the upcoming polls, focusing on issues of corruption under the TMC regime, social infrastructure deficits, and minority representation. Solanki asserted that AIMIM would pose a "tough election" challenge for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, leveraging perceived discontent among Muslim voters who traditionally support the TMC.

This development underscores evolving pre-poll dynamics in West Bengal, where the ruling TMC faces anti-incumbency pressures while opposition forces, including the BJP, Left Front, and Congress, seek to consolidate. Any formal AIMIM-Kabir alliance could fragment minority votes in key regions, potentially altering outcomes in the 294-seat Assembly contest scheduled for March-April 2026. However, with Owaisi holding the final authority and past national-level rejections, the prospects remain uncertain as both sides navigate alliances amid heightened political maneuvering.

Also Read: TMC Suspended MLA Kabir Aims Kingmaker Position, Plans Rally on December 22