Jamshedpur: Jamshedpur (West) MLA Banna Gupta with face Babar Khan of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Salahuddin Owaisi, and veteran politician Saryu Roy of JD(U) in the upcoming assembly poll.
Babar joined AIMIM early this month.
“AIMIM is focused on fighting for the rights of Muslim community. I will file nomination papers for Jamshedpur (West) on October 24.The number of participants in the bike rally, which will accompany me, will show my voter base,” he said.
Babar is an eminent figure of the Muslim community, which comprises around 27% of the 3,85,661 voters in the constituency. Banna had got 96,778 votes, 50.28% of the total ballots cast, in the 2019 polls, while BJP’s Devendra Nath Singh secured 74,195 votes.
Banna first won the Jamshedpur (West) seat in 2009 polls with a Congress ticket.
“Banna did not work for the development of the Muslim community even after receiving their support. Hence, I severed my 35-year association with JMM,” Babar stated.
Without naming Babar, Banna said, “Switching of camps by certain leaders will not impact my political prospect. The Nov 23 results will again show that INDIA bloc will continue to be in chief minister’s office. The Hemant Soren-led state govt is by the people, for the people, and of the people.”