All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) president Chandrashekhar Azad are expected to announce an alliance for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections at a joint press conference in Lucknow on Thursday.
The two leaders arrived in Lucknow on Wednesday ahead of the announcement. According to sources quoted by NDTV, the parties have finalised the agreement after several rounds of discussions. AIMIM spokesperson Shadab Chauhan also confirmed the proposed alliance to news agency PTI, saying details would be shared at the press conference.
The proposed partnership could create a political formation outside the BJP-led NDA and the Samajwadi Party-Congress opposition alliance. It brings together AIMIM, which seeks to represent Muslim interests, and Azad’s party, which is working to build a political base among Dalit voters.
Alliance Targets Dalit and Muslim Voters
Muslims account for around 19 per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s population, while Scheduled Castes make up approximately 21 per cent. The two communities together represent nearly 40 per cent of the state’s population.
The parties are looking to bring these voter groups onto a common platform. However, their ability to translate this support into seats will depend on local factors and the alliance’s eventual seat-sharing arrangement.
AIMIM has struggled to win Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. In the 2022 elections, it contested more than 90 constituencies but received less than 0.5 per cent of the vote. The Azad Samaj Party contested over 100 seats and secured 0.13 per cent.
Chandrashekhar Azad, however, won the Nagina Lok Sabha seat in 2024, giving his party its first elected representative in Parliament.
The proposed alliance could also challenge the Samajwadi Party’s PDA strategy, which brings together backward classes, Dalits and minorities. The SP won 37 of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections.
AIMIM Says Opposition Parties Rejected Alliance Offer
Uttar Pradesh AIMIM president Shaukat Ali said the party had approached the Samajwadi Party, Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party before turning to Azad.
“We have always wanted a strong alliance to be formed so that the BJP does not come to power in Uttar Pradesh for a third term,” Ali said. He alleged that Muslims had suffered the most under the BJP government.
Questioning the possibility of a broader SP-Congress alliance, Ali said it was similar to the partnership that contested the 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections. He also referred to the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, where the BJP-JD(U)-led NDA retained power while the RJD and Congress did not ally with AIMIM.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, when asked about the proposed partnership, said, “The people of Uttar Pradesh have already made up their minds in favour of the Samajwadi Party.”
Azad Says Alliance Will Focus on Youth and Marginalised Communities
Chandrashekhar Azad said the proposed partnership would work to strengthen young people, farmers and weaker sections of society.
“Whatever it is will be revealed before you,” he told reporters in Lucknow when asked about the alliance.
Azad also raised concerns about unemployment, the shortage of government jobs and the difficulties faced by educated young people from Dalit and backward communities.
“Educated young people from Dalit and backward communities are struggling despite having degrees,” he said, adding that issues such as vote theft and the consequences of demonetisation also needed attention.
The parties have not yet disclosed how many seats they plan to contest in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly or whether other smaller parties will join the alliance. The details are expected to be announced at Thursday’s press conference.
