The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) announced on Saturday its plan to contest around 100 seats in the forthcoming Bihar assembly elections, positioning itself as a “third alternative” to the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-RJD combine.
Headed by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, the party aims to expand its footprint in the state, where politics has traditionally been dominated by the two main blocs.
AIMIM’s state president Akhtarul Iman said, “Our plan is to contest 100 seats. Both the NDA and the 'Mahagathbandhan' (the name by which the INDIA bloc is known in Bihar) will be forced to realise our presence.” He added that the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, which had in 2020 accused the AIMIM of splitting secular votes, can no longer do so.
“It is now common knowledge that I wrote to (RJD president) Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav, expressing willingness for a tie-up. But no response came. Now, we must do all that we can to expand our footprints. Yes, we are also in talks with like-minded parties to explore the possibility of a third front. It will all be clear in a few days,” Iman said.
Also read: Owaisi confirms AIMIM offer of alliance to Tejashwi Yadav
The 243-member Bihar assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting scheduled for November 14.
In the 2020 assembly elections, AIMIM had contested in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party and the now-defunct Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, winning five seats and impacting the RJD, Congress, and Left combine in several constituencies. Four AIMIM MLAs joined the RJD in 2022, leaving Iman as the lone legislator of the party in the state.
Political analysts note that the party sees potential in Bihar’s Seemanchal region, where Muslims account for over 17 per cent of the population but remain underrepresented in the legislature. Last month, Owaisi toured districts including Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar, and Purnea to strengthen the party’s presence.
While Owaisi has accused the RJD, JD(U), and Congress of neglecting Muslims, critics allege AIMIM acts as “a B team of the BJP”, fragmenting secular votes in favour of the saffron party.
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