Viral video sparks split: Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM breaks off alliance with Humayun Kabir’s AJUP weeks before Bengal polls

The video, purportedly featuring Kabir, that surfaced on social media has sparked a political row in West Bengal. In the clip, he is allegedly heard saying he is working to defeat Banerjee with the support of the BJP.

“Humayun Kabir’s revelations have shown how vulnerable Bengal’s Muslims are…AIMIM cannot associate with any statements where integrity of Muslims is brought into question,” AIMIM stated on its X handle on Friday morning.

“As of today, AIMIM has withdrawn its alliance with Kabir’s party. Bengal’s Muslims are one of the poorest, neglected and oppressed communities. 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,” the post added.

“We will be contesting the Bengal elections INDEPENDENTLY and will have no alliance with any party going forward,” the AIMIM further stated.

Humayun Kabir’s reaction to the allegations

Reacting to the allegations, Kabir said: “Is the Prime Minister of India really such a weak figure that he would hand over Rs 1,000 crore to Humayun Kabir? Do you take everyone for a fool?”

He further said Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee “may have lost their minds, but Humayun Kabir certainly won’t”.

#WATCH | Murshidabad, West Bengal: On the alleged links between AJUP and BJP, AJUP president Humayun Kabir says, “…what kind of preposterous claim are you making? Is the Prime Minister of India really such a weak figure that he would hand over Rs 1,000 crore to Humayun Kabir?… pic.twitter.com/sT6dgksECm

— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2026

AIMIM to go solo in Bengal polls

The AIMIM is contesting in 11 Assembly seats in West Bengal.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Imran Solanki, AIMIM Bengal president, said, “Our party has taken a decision to break off the alliance with Humayun Kabir’s AJUP. Now we will fight alone in Bengal and win. We have given candidates in nine seats in the first phase and two seats in the second phase.”

A scheduled joint public meeting of the two parties in Bhagabangola in Murshidabad on Saturday has now been cancelled. “There is no question of a joint rally now. We will campaign on our own and win seats. Our chief Asaduddin Owaisi will visit Bengal and campaign for our party,” said Solanki.

The AIMIM has named candidates in Raghunathganj, Kandi, Lalgola, Suti, Nalhati, Muraroi, Sujapur, Mothabari and Asansol Uttar, which will go for polls in the first phase on April 23. It has also named candidates for the Bashirhat Uttar and Habra Assembly seats, which will go to polls in the second phase on April 29.

The AIMIM contested six seats in Bengal in 2021 but lost all of them.