A fresh political battle is taking shape in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi launching a sharp attack on opposition parties over their approach towards Muslim voters. Accusing so-called secular parties of treating Muslims merely as vote banks, Owaisi argued that the community deserves equal rights, political representation and opportunities rather than being used only during elections.
Speaking in an interview following the announcement of an alliance between AIMIM and Chandrashekhar Azad's Azad Samaj Party, Owaisi said the primary objective of the partnership was to prevent the BJP from returning to power in Uttar Pradesh.
He stressed that Dalit-Muslim unity was not the alliance's only goal. Instead, the two parties wanted to build a strong political alternative capable of challenging the existing political establishment.
Owaisi highlighted what he described as the difficulties faced by Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in education, employment and political representation. He also alleged that members of the community were disproportionately affected by administrative bulldozer actions.
Taking aim at established opposition parties, he claimed that Muslims were repeatedly promised representation before elections but were neglected once the electoral battle was over. According to him, other caste groups had developed their own political leadership, while Muslims had not received similar opportunities.
The AIMIM chief also rejected allegations that his alliance with Chandrashekhar Azad could indirectly benefit the BJP. Defending his decision, he pointed to political contests between opposition parties in different states.
He cited the Samajwadi Party's participation in elections in Jammu and Kashmir and the Congress's electoral rivalry with the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab, questioning why his own party was being singled out for contesting independently.
Owaisi also launched a direct attack on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. He dismissed claims that the SP had offered AIMIM an alliance, describing the suggestion as a major political falsehood.
According to Owaisi, he had approached the SP with an alliance proposal, but it was rejected. He also recalled the Muzaffarnagar riots, alleging that affected Muslim families were forced to live in displacement camps during the previous SP government.
Criticising Akhilesh Yadav's political approach, Owaisi further alleged that his visit to Ayodhya was an attempt to strengthen his Hindutva image.
Meanwhile, he described Chandrashekhar Azad as a young and dynamic leader and said their partnership aimed to challenge the established political order.
With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching, the AIMIM-Azad alliance could add a new dimension to the state's political contest. Its electoral impact, however, will depend on whether the partnership can translate its Dalit-Muslim unity pitch into votes.
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