In his first rally in West Bengal alongside suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir, MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday made a dual declaration: a promise to bring forth political leadership from the state’s Muslim community and an announcement that his party, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), will continue its alliance with Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) in the 2029 parliamentary elections.

The AIMIM and the newly formed AJUP held a public meeting at a field in Nowda in Murshidabad district on Wednesday. While the upcoming Assembly polls will mark AJUP’s debut, the AIMIM had contested six seats in Bengal in 2021 but lost. However, the party has ventured into the state on the back of its recent success in Bihar, where it won five seats in the Seemanchal region.

“We are not together just for the Assembly polls. We will fight together even in the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. Our aim is to make more and more of our (alliance) candidates win this time. It is time Muslims in Bengal bring a change,” Owaisi said, amidst cheers from the crowd.

This is the first of a series of campaign rallies and public meetings that Owaisi and Kabir are scheduled to address in Bengal.

Speaking from a makeshift stage on a field covered by a thin green and yellow cloth overhead, amidst a crowd of thousands blowing whistles—the AJUP’s election symbol—both Owaisi and Kabir talked about an alternative before the Muslims of Bengal.

“First, it was the Congress. They did not do anything for you. Then came the Left. What benefit did you get? Then, Mamata Banerjee ruled for 15 years. Did you get government jobs? Why are youths in Murshidabad and Malda escaping to different parts of the country for jobs? Aap ko vote chapne ka machine bana diya (you have been turned into voting machines)” Owaisi said. “Now you have an opportunity to become a leader. Humayun is providing that opportunity to you. If you don’t choose a leader from your side, you will never have a voice,” he added.