AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday, September 20, said his party was open to an alliance with parties seeking to prevent the BJP from returning to power in Uttar Pradesh for a third consecutive term.
Addressing a public meeting in Kanpur’s Cantonment constituency, Owaisi urged voters to strengthen AIMIM’s presence in the state and said the Muslim community needed a “voice” in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
“We also do not want the BJP government to be formed in UP for the third time. If you want to stop the BJP from forming the government again, come and join hands with AIMIM,” he said.
AIMIM to Announce Alliance After October 2
Owaisi said his party would wait until October 2 before announcing whether it would enter into an alliance and, if so, with whom. He had previously said AIMIM was working towards an alliance in Uttar Pradesh.
He also referred to the party’s experience during the Bihar Assembly elections, saying AIMIM had offered to contest six seats as part of an alliance but was instead subjected to what he described as “false allegations”.
Owaisi Targets Akhilesh Yadav
During the Kanpur meeting, Owaisi also targeted Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.
“Your Akhilesh ‘bhaiya’ came to power, how many riots took place?” he asked.
Owaisi referred to the Muzaffarnagar violence and said around 50,000 people had been displaced from their homes and villages. He also questioned the political representation of Muslims during the SP government.
Owaisi accused successive governments in Uttar Pradesh of failing to adequately address the socio economic and educational concerns of Muslims.
Owaisi Raises Madrasa and Jauhar Issues
Owaisi also criticised the BJP government over its actions concerning madrasas and spoke about the role of Muslim clerics and religious scholars in India’s freedom movement.
He criticised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his references to freedom fighter and former Congress president Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar.
The AIMIM chief also spoke about the history of Kanpur’s madrasas and claimed that Muslim ulemas had issued a fatwa against the British during the freedom struggle.
The remarks come ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with AIMIM conducting public meetings across the state as it considers its electoral strategy and possible alliances.
