Asaduddin Owaisi, the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), commenced his campaign for the West Bengal Assembly elections with a rally in Naoda, Murshidabad, on April 1, 2026. He criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming she has done nothing for the Muslim community, which constitutes approximately 30% of the state's population. Owaisi emphasized the need for Muslim leadership and urged the community to unite and vote for his party and its ally, the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), led by Humayun Kabir, who is contesting from the Naoda constituency. He stated that both Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi represent a common threat to Muslims, labeling them as akin to 'brother and sister' in their neglect of the community's rights. Owaisi highlighted the disparity in government job representation, noting that Muslims make up only 7% of government positions despite their significant population. The AIMIM and AJUP plan to contest 182 of the 294 assembly seats, aiming to challenge the dominance of both the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. The elections will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results to be announced on May 4.