AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday accused Trinamul and the BJP of a “tacit understanding”, and said his party never compromised on its anti-BJP stand, at public meetings in North Dinajpur and Malda.

Both these north Bengal districts have sizeable Muslim populations. In recent months, the AIMIM — which won five Assembly seats last year in Bihar’s Seemanchal area near Bengal — is focussing on Bengal areas near Bihar.

“It seems Owaisi plans to repeat his Bihar gains on this side of the border,” said a political observer.

So far, the AIMIM has decided to field candidates in Itahar (North Dinajpur) and Malatipur (Malda), along with a couple of other seats in Murshidabad, another district with a high minority concentration.

“You voted Trinamul to defeat the BJP in 2019. But your bid ended in vain as some Trinamul workers voted for BJP. Leaders of these parties have a tacit understanding. Now that I am vocal, Mamata Banerjee is accusing me of taking money from the BJP to contest in Bengal. Trinamul can’t thwart the BJP. The best option is AIMIM. We have never compromised on our anti-BJP stand,” Owaisi said in Malatipur.

Earlier in Itahar, he came up with figures to cite how the community, around 28 per cent of Bengal’s populace, suffered in Bengal. “Around 20 per cent of Muslim children are still out of schools and colleges. Also, 80 per cent of Muslims who live here earn a maximum of Rs 5,000 a month and among them 38 per cent earn Rs 2,500. Only 3 per cent make around Rs 15,000 a month. It is a clear indication of what the Congress, Left and Trinamul have done for them (Muslims) in Bengal,” he said.

Trinamul leaders sounded unperturbed.

“People are well aware of his tricks and intentions…. he does not have any influence or support base in Bengal. Those who went to his meetings did so merely out of curiosity. Whatever he has said is far from the truth,” said Mausam Noor, the Malda district Trinamul chief.

Murder in market

A farmer was hacked to death by his brother-in-law at Jajoil area under Habibpur police station of Malda on Thursday morning. Police have arrested the accused from the spot.

Sources said Bifal Mandal,38, was hacked in public by his brother-in-law Ukil Mandal when the former at a weekly market in the locality.

“The deceased had a scuffle with his wife on Wednesday night and she left for her brother Ukil’s house. In the morning, as Bifal went to market, Ukil, a barber, attacked him with a sharp weapon,” said a police officer.

People caught Ukil and rished Bifal to a local hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Police were told and they arrested Ukil.