AIMIM is expected to play a crucial role in the West Bengal Assembly elections, due to be held in April-May. Ahead of it, Mamata Banerjee has been projecting Asaduddin Owaisi as an undesirable political element. Today, the party's first rally, which was to be addressed by Owaisi himself in Kolkata, was cancelled at the last minute after police denied permission.

Owaisi, speaking to the media, has called out the ruling TMC. He suggested that the ruling party is trying to subvert the MIM politically. Saying that TMC MPs speak about freedom of expression and dissent in Parliament but don't walk the talk in Bengal, Owaisi lamented that Banerjee's party has got two faces. "If I want to conduct a public meeting there, then why am I not being permitted?" the Hyderabad MP asked.

He said that the Model Code of Conduct is not in force in Bengal as yet. Owaisi complained that free and fair elections can't be ensured if this behaviour continues. "If Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda can hold a rally, if Congress, CPM, and TMC can hold a rally, why can't we?" he was quoted as saying by ANI.

MIM is said to be a threat to TMC because they both compete for Muslim votes.