No Response From India Bloc Yet, Asaduddin Owaisi Begins Solo Bihar Campaign

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has launched his campaign for the Bihar assembly elections in the Seemanchal region independently, as uncertainty persists regarding his party's alliance with the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

During the 2020 elections, AIMIM contested 19 assembly seats and secured victories in five constituencies, all within the Seemanchal region, which has a significant Muslim population. This area encompasses the districts of Purnea, Katihar, Kishanganj, and Araria. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, though AIMIM fielded candidates in 15 Bihar seats, they failed to win any.

According to AIMIM sources, Mr Owaisi initiated his campaign with the "Seemanchal Nyay Yatra" from Kishanganj, which is scheduled to continue until September 27. During this period, he plans to conduct roadshows and hold corner meetings across various assembly constituencies in the region.

These developments occur amid increasing speculation about the Hyderabad MP's potential inclusion in the INDIA bloc, which includes Bihar's opposition party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Mr Owaisi has reportedly sent three letters to the RJD expressing his interest in joining the Opposition Mahagathbandhan but has yet to receive any response.

"We have written to (RJD leader) Tejashwi Yadav indicating our readiness for an alliance. We are only requesting six seats. The decision now lies with Tejashwi Yadav. If they refuse to form an alliance, the people of Bihar will understand who is actually helping the BJP," Mr Owaisi stated on Wednesday.

In the 2020 assembly elections, AIMIM contested in partnership with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and the now-defunct Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) headed by former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, who has since joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan fell short of a majority by approximately twelve seats in that election.

Sources indicate that RJD is reluctant to allocate any seats to AIMIM in Seemanchal, fearing that the party might demand additional seats in other Muslim-majority areas, including Dharbhanga and Madhubani.

Additionally, RJD harbors concerns that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might frame the electoral contest as a 'Hindu vs Muslim' battle if AIMIM joins the Mahagathbandhan.

Political analysts suggest that this situation could divide the RJD-Congress vote share in Seemanchal, potentially altering Bihar's political landscape for the 2025 elections.