Of the 21 candidates, the ISF has so far announced as its share of seats in alliance with the Left Front and Congress, 10 Hindus are either from the tribal community, while the rest are Muslim.
The Indian Secular Front (ISF), led by the influential religious leader of Furfura Sharif, Abbas Siddiqui, has bid for the West Bengal assembly elections to prove its secular credentials to candidates cut across religions and castes.
The BJP and the Trinamool Congress have accused the newly formed political organization of being a minority card-playing party. Of the 21 candidates, the ISF has so far announced as its share of seats in alliance with the Left Front and Congress, 10 Hindus are either from the tribal community, while the rest are Muslim.
ISF President Simul Soren said that the party represents the interests of Dalits, tribals and OBCs, irrespective of their religious beliefs.
The BJP and TMC alleged that the Left Front and Congress have credited their secularism by tying up with the party floated by the 34-year-old cleric of Muslim cleric Furfura Sharif in Hooghly district.
Stating that the ISF is a communal party, the CPI (M) leader said, “The Siddiqui-led organization has resolved to fight for the rights of the backward and Dalit people of the society.” He claimed that his new floating political organization would prove to be a ‘kingmaker’ in the state, which has around 30% Muslim voters.
Mr Siddiqui dismissed the allegation that he had entered the electoral arena to cut TMC’s Muslim vote base, nurtured by Mamata Banerjee.
“In the last 10 years, the TMC government has only fooled Muslims and Dalits. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has done nothing for him. ‘ PTI In a recent interview.
The ISF boss said, “We are looking for backward community votes not just for Muslim votes here.”
Mr. Soren is contesting from Haripal, while the party has fielded Milan Mandi, Bikram Chatterjee, Gauranga Das, Sanchi Sarkar and Anoop Mandal among Hindu and tribal candidates.
Sirajuddin Ghazi, Sheikh Sabbir, Faisal Khan Abbasuddin Khan, Pirzada B Amin and Mod Mostakim are among the 11 ISF candidates from the Muslim community.
The party has selected Mr. Siddiqui’s younger brother Naushad Siddiqui from Bhangar constituency in South 24 Parganas district.
The Left Front has given 30 seats to the ISF from its kitty, while the Congress has agreed to offer it seven constituencies from where the grand old party contested the 2016 elections.
Voting will be held from March 27 to April 29 for 294 assembly seats in West Bengal. The votes will be counted on 2 May.
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