The Trinamul leadership in Jalpaiguri formed full-fledged committees of party’s minority cell at the district level and in 15 organisational blocks on Tuesday, prompted by a sudden surge in activities of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in parts of the district.
Mosharraf Hossain, nominated as the new district president of Trinamul’s minority cell, said that the AIMIM was active in some areas was trying to erode Trinamul's support base.
“In Nagrakata, the AIMIM had planned to get some of our local leaders and active workers on board a few days back. We could thwart them. Also, there is information that the party (AIMIM) is active in places like Malbazar, Kranti and parts of Rajganj. We are collecting information on a regular basis from all seven Assembly seats of the district and will take initiatives to stop the AIMIM from consolidating support base in minority areas,” said Hossain.
In Jalpaiguri, around 30 per cent of the voters are from minority community in Rajganj constituency while in Malbazar, the percentage is 27.
According to sources, AIMIM workers are also taking up political activities in places like Binnaguri and Banarhat quietly.
On Tuesday, district Trinamul leaders announced a 50-member district committee of the cell.
Along with Hossain, the district committee has three working presidents, two coordinators, four vice-presidents, a secretary-general, six general secretaries, six assistant general secretaries, 12 executive members and 15 block presidents.
The minority cell president, when asked how they intend to impede the AIMIM from gathering support, was brief in his comments.
“We won’t divulge our plans but we will surely stress the initiatives taken up by our chief minister and state government for the minority community,” he said.
Some party insiders pointed out that unlike yesteryears, no one from other minority communities such as Buddhists, Christians and Sikhs were included in these panels.
“Their votes also matter to the party. We hope representatives from these communities would be inducted in other (party) committees in due course,” said a party leader.
District Trinamul chief K.K. Kalyani said the AIMIM would fail to make any impact in poll results. “The party failed in Bihar Assembly elections…they have drawn up a similar strategy for Bengal. We are confident that people will stand with us.”
However, ever since AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi announced he would field candidates in some districts of Bengal for the 2021 state elections, Trinamul is worried about a dent in minority votes.
Recently, chief minister Mamata Banerjee at a public meeting here accused the BJP of spending crores to try to import Owaisi's AIMIM in Bengal and divide Muslim votes.
The AIMIM chief had reacted to the accusation in a tweet: “Never was a man born who can buy Asaduddin Owaisi with money.”
Political observers are watching the unfolding events with interest. “Trinamul is apprehensive that AIMIM’s entry would dent their support base and affect poll results, particularly when the BJP is desperate. That is why Trinamul seems to have taken up the task to engage its minority cell to prevent withering of its support base,” said a political observer.
