New Delhi: Asaduddin Owaisi’s party AIMIM on Friday snapped ties with Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) and decided to contest the Assembly elections in West Bengal “independently”. The announcement comes after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) released a purported sting video showing Kabir making controversial remarks about Muslims in West Bengal and his alleged links with the BJP.
In a post on X, Owaisi’s party announced the breakup move, saying that it cannot associate with any statements where “the integrity of Muslims is brought into question.” The AIMIM and the Kabir’s party had earlier announced that they would contest the West Bengal elections together.
“Humayun Kabir’s revelations have shown how vulnerable Bengal’s Muslims are. AIMIM cannot associate with any statements where the integrity of Muslims is brought into question. As of today, AIMIM has withdrawn its alliance with Kabir’s party,” the post read.
Humayun Kabir’s revelations have shown how vulnerable Bengal’s Muslims are. That AIMIM cannot associate with any statements where integrity of Muslims is brought into question. As of today, AIMIM has withdrawn its alliance with Kabir’s party. Bengal’s Muslims are one of the…
— AIMIM (@aimim_national) April 10, 2026
The party further noted that Bengal’s Muslims are one of the poorest, neglected and oppressed communities and despite decades of secular rule, nothing has been done for them.
“AIMIM’s policy in contesting elections in any state is so that the marginalised communities have an independent political voice,” it added. Owaisi’s party further said that it will be contesting the Bengal elections independently and will have “no alliance with any party going forward”.
Row over Humayun Kabir’s video
An alleged video of Humayun Kabir showed him claiming links with senior BJP leaders and efforts to defeat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the upcoming Assembly elections. Kabir was suspended by the TMC late last year, and founded his own party — Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP).
The video, which could not be independently verified by News9, showed Kabir allegedly claiming that he has been in touch with senior BJP leaders and is also planning to divert minority votes away from the ruling Trinamool Congress. He further claimed that he received Rs 200 crore as an advance as part of a Rs 1,000 crore deal to execute the plan.
As the video drew immense backlash, he said that the clip was “AI-generated” and accused the TMC leadership of orchestrating a smear campaign against him. He also warned of legal action against TMC leaders.
“It is an attempt to malign me by the TMC, who are afraid to lose the vote of Muslims. They have insulted the community by launching such a fake video, which made light of Muslims’ sentiments by putting certain statements through AI,” he said.