Minority Unity Talks Threaten Mamata's West Bengal Vote Bank Ahead of Elections

• New Muslim-led outfits are exploring a united front, potentially splitting the Trinamool Congress's key minority vote bank in West Bengal.
• Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir, leading the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP), is openly urging Muslims to break away from the ruling party.
• The Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui called for an alliance against both TMC and BJP, gaining endorsement from Kabir.
• Discussions are underway between ISF, JUP, and other smaller outfits, with feelers sent to the Left and Congress for a broader front.
• A fragmented minority vote, even by a few percentage points, could significantly impact seat outcomes in TMC strongholds like Murshidabad and Malda.

Why It Matters: Emerging minority unity talks pose a significant challenge to Mamata Banerjee's dominant vote bank in West Bengal.