evidence: - BJP’s rise in West Bengal - TMC’s critical dependence on Muslim votes - AIMIM’s recent victory in Kishanganj [...] Last month, the AIMIM won a crucial bye-election in the Kishanganj Assembly constituency, situated on Bihar’s border with West Bengal. The West Bengal districts of Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda are in the vicinity of Kishanganj and these also happen to be the areas where the TMC has traditionally not been very strong. [...] Despite the TMC’s resilience, the AIMIM’s model of expansion does give it a chance in West Bengal. So far, the party has successfully expanded in two states – Maharashtra and Bihar – outside of its core Hyderabad. Instead of putting up candidates in all seats in these states, the AIMIM cleverly chose Muslim dominated pockets such as the Seemanchal region in Bihar and Marathwada and Greater Mumbai in Maharashtra.