Owaisi Expands Eastern Campaign as AIMIM Eyes Bengal and Assam Ahead of Key Electoral Battles

Over the past few years, Asaduddin Owaisi's popularity has grown exponentially. His position on national security issues has drawn praise even from critics, establishing him as a formidable leader with a nationwide appeal. Against this backdrop, AIMIM has been looking to expand its footprint beyond Hyderabad. For a long time, opposition parties such as Congress dismissed Owaisi as the “B team of BJP”, alleging that his party contested polls to divide opposition votes and benefit the BJP. Owaisi has consistently trashed such claims, asserting that the Constitution grants his party the right to contest elections anywhere in the country. In the recently held Rajya Sabha election, Bihar’s five AIMIM MLAs voted for the opposition Mahagathbandhan candidate, challenging the “B team” narrative.

In Bengal, AIMIM’s alliance with Humayun Kabir’s newly formed Aam Janata Unnayan Party marks a significant political development. The alliance may contest around 182 seats, primarily in north Bengal districts such as Murshidabad, where a significant Muslim population resides. These districts are known for strong electoral polarisation, and the entry of AIMIM and Kabir’s party is likely to impact the Trinamool Congress while potentially benefiting the BJP. With the BJP intensifying its efforts to reshape the political landscape in Bengal, a division in minority votes could play a decisive role in determining the outcome.

In Assam, AIMIM has chosen not to field candidates but has extended support to Ajmal’s AIUDF. During the 2021 state polls, AIUDF was part of an alliance with the Congress. However, the Congress has since distanced itself, with its state chief, Gaurav Gogoi, stating that the party does not wish to align with what it termed a “communal party”. In the 2021 elections, AIUDF secured 16 Assembly seats. However, in the 2024 general election, Badruddin Ajmal suffered a significant defeat to Congress candidate Rakibul Hussain by a margin of 10 lakh votes. As Ajmal seeks to recover from this setback, his alliance with AIMIM signals a strategic recalibration. Owaisi’s campaign presence in Assam, despite AIMIM not contesting seats, is viewed as an attempt to leverage his pan-India appeal to strengthen AIUDF’s electoral prospects.

The expansion of AIMIM’s political activity into Bengal and Assam underscores a broader strategy to establish a national presence. As electoral dynamics intensify in these states, the role of Owaisi and his alliances could significantly influence vote distributions and reshape political equations.F