Asaduddin Owaisi Rejects 'BJP B-Team' Label, Challenges Opposition to Self-Introspect Amid Bihar Elections

New Delhi:

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has dismissed the Opposition's allegation that his party serves as Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "B-team" and suggested they need to engage in "self-introspection".

In a conversation with NDTV's CEO and Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal during 'Walk The Talk', just two days after Bihar's first phase of assembly elections, Owaisi refuted the Opposition's assertion that he functions as a "vote-cutter".

The Hyderabad MP stated that he bears no responsibility for the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) "victory chariot," which secured power at the Centre for the third consecutive term last year.

"They continually label me a vote-cutter and B-team. However, nobody acknowledges that Narendra Modi has become prime minister three times. Who should take responsibility for that? When a party or alliance contests 450-500 seats and still faces defeat thrice, why blame others? They should look inward," he remarked.

Owaisi challenged Opposition parties accusing him of "spoiling the game" to engage in a debate with him on NDTV.

"Those making accusations would retreat within five minutes. We possess the data," he asserted.

When questioned whether the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led (RJD) Opposition, known as Mahagathbandhan, could successfully unseat the ruling BJP-led NDA in these Bihar assembly elections, he indicated it would present a "significant challenge." Criticizing the RJD, he pointed out that the party has not independently formed a government since 2004.

He further revealed that AIMIM had sent correspondence to all parties within the opposition INDIA bloc, expressing willingness to contest elections as an ally, but received no responses.

In the previous assembly elections, Owaisi's AIMIM contested 19 seats and secured five victories. However, four of its MLAs subsequently joined the RJD.

Bihar's second phase of polling is scheduled for November 11, with vote counting to take place on November 14.

The NDA coalition includes BJP, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), Union Minister Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha, and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The Opposition alliance comprises Tejashwi Yadav's RJD, Congress, and Left parties as its primary constituents.