Owaisi Joining Hands with Abbas Siddiqui; Who is Abbas Siddiqui?

Assembly elections are likely to be held in the months of April-May in West Bengal. In this election, Asaduddin Owaisi's party All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) is also preparing to contest. They will contest the upcoming elections in Bengal under the leadership of Abbas Siddiqui. 

Owaisi, who arrived in Bengal on Sunday, met Abbas Siddiqui, who emerged as the most vocal critic of the ruling party in recent months. Asaduddin Owaisi said, "We will move forward in Bengal under the leadership of Abbas Siddiqui. We will be by his side. I will support whatever decision he takes. " 

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Asaduddin, head of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), landed at Dumdum Airport at 7am on Sunday . From there he went straight to Furfura Sharif. There he met with minority leaders including Peerzada Abbas, Peerzada Naushad Siddiqui, Peerzada Boizid Amin and Sabir Ghaffar. Abbas also showed Asaduddin around Furfura Sharif. Asaduddin was also seen talking to the locals there. 

Asaduddin had earlier surprised by announcing that he would field a candidate in Bengal in the '21 elections. It didn't take long for speculation to start that he was going to meet Abbas at Furfura Sharif in Hughli on Sunday morning. 

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Who is Abbas Siddiqui

Abbas Siddiqui, one of the most prominent Muslim clerics in Bengal. Abbasuddin Siddiqui family which is the custodian of the famous Furfura Sharif shrine, one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in Bengal.

Siddiqui had said that he would contest election in at least 45 seats in Bengal. He had invited all secular parties to forge an alliance and fight against communal forces together.

The Muslim population of Bengal was 27.01% during the 2011 census and is now projected to increase to about 30%. The Muslim population is mainly concentrated in the districts of Murshidabad (66.28%), Malda (51.27%), Uttar Dinajpur (49.92%), South 24 Parganas (35.57%), and Birbhum (37.06%). 

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Furfura Sharif and its importance

Furfura Sharif, also known as Furfura, is a village in Jangipada block of Shrirampur subdivision in Hooghly district of West Bengal. Mukulish Khan built a mosque in Furfura village in the year 1375, which has now become the center of faith of Bengali Muslims. A large number of devotees reach here during the Urs and Pir Melas.

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