Owaisi's AIMIM Party is Eager to Join the Grand Alliance in Bihar. Seeking Only 6 Seats. RJD and Congress Refuse. Despite Knocking on Lalu Yadav's Door, No Place in the Alliance.
Bihar Politics: The political atmosphere in Bihar is heating up ahead of the next assembly elections. Asaduddin Owaisi's party, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), is quite eager to form an alliance with the Bihar Grand Alliance, also known as the INDIA bloc. AIMIM's state president, Akhtarul Iman, had previously pleaded to join the alliance and subsequently wrote a letter to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.
However, these efforts have yielded no results. On Thursday, Akhtarul Iman, along with his supporters, reached Lalu Yadav's residence and forcefully raised the demand for an alliance. Yet, neither the door was opened nor was there any positive response.
AIMIM is demanding only six seats, but despite this, no party within the Grand Alliance has agreed to their inclusion. This raises the question: why is Owaisi's party so desperate to join the alliance?
AIMIM's Objective
Akhtarul Iman clarified that AIMIM's objective is for all opposition parties in Bihar to contest the elections unitedly. He believes that no single party can stop communal forces alone. If AIMIM is not included in the alliance, Muslim votes will be divided, and parties like the BJP will benefit from this.
He stated that their proposal for an alliance is not to demand a chief minister's post or a ministry, but merely to secure six seats. Referencing the RJD's move to poach AIMIM's four MLAs, he said that they are serious about removing communal forces in Bihar and are ready for an alliance despite potential losses.
RJD and Congress Refuse Owaisi
AIMIM is demanding an alliance by arguing to prevent the division of Muslim votes in the Bihar Assembly elections. However, both Congress and RJD are unwilling to agree. Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru has passed the responsibility to Lalu Yadav, stating that while AIMIM has sent a proposal, he will be the one to respond.
RJD MP Manoj Jha had earlier clarified that if AIMIM wishes to defeat BJP in Bihar, it should support the INDIA bloc instead of demanding an alliance. In this manner, the RJD has clearly indicated that AIMIM will not be accommodated in the Grand Alliance.
Reasons for Owaisi's Eagerness
Owaisi's party does not have a b grassroots presence in Bihar. Their influence is limited to certain parts of Seemanchal. Meanwhile, after Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', the atmosphere in Seemanchal has shifted in favor of the Grand Alliance. In a direct contest between NDA and the INDIA bloc, Muslim votes appear to be leaning towards the Grand Alliance.
Consequently, AIMIM's political prospects seem to be dimming, which is why Owaisi's party is desperate to join the alliance. Outside of Hyderabad, wherever AIMIM has carved out a political space, it has achieved victory not through its own strength but with the support of other parties.
Previous Electoral Strategies
In 2020, AIMIM allied with Upendra Kushwaha and BSP in Bihar, winning five seats. In Maharashtra, they also achieved victory by forming an alliance with Prakash Ambedkar. A similar strategy is being attempted in Bihar.
By entering the Grand Alliance, Owaisi also aims to dismantle the "B-team" narrative imposed by the BJP. He believes that the NDA's lead can be challenged solely on the strength of Muslim votes.
Why is RJD Hesitant to Join Hands with Owaisi?
Political analysts suggest that an alliance with Owaisi could be detrimental to the Grand Alliance. Owaisi's politics could polarize votes, leading to consolidation of Hindu votes. Tejashwi Yadav and Congress, wary of this risk, are avoiding bringing AIMIM into the alliance.
If they join hands with AIMIM, the BJP will accuse them of aligning with a pro-Muslim and extremist party. In Bihar, forming a government solely on the basis of Muslim votes is not possible. Therefore, both RJD and Congress are maintaining distance from an alliance with Owaisi.
