Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during an interview with NDTV, accusing her of exploiting Muslim voters for political gain. He stated that Banerjee has played a significant role in strengthening the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, referencing historical instances where the Trinamool Congress facilitated the BJP's electoral successes. Owaisi expressed frustration over the treatment of Muslims, suggesting that Banerjee treats them like 'cattle' by milking their votes without providing substantial benefits. Additionally, he announced his intention to contest nine seats in the upcoming elections independently, following the end of his alliance with Humayun Kabir, who has been accused of having ties with the BJP. In the previous election, AIMIM secured less than 5% of the vote share, and Owaisi's current strategy aims to improve this performance.