AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday made an open pitch for an Opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, saying parties seeking to prevent the BJP from securing a third consecutive term should hold talks with his party. Owaisi said the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) was prepared to work with parties that shared its objective of preventing another BJP government in the state, but argued that no single political party could accomplish this on its own.
“If you want to stop the BJP, talk to us. We are ready to work with you,” Owaisi said while speaking about AIMIM’s preparations for the Assembly elections. He added that if other Opposition parties did not want to engage with AIMIM, his party would continue building its organisation independently.
Alliance door open
Owaisi said AIMIM did not want the BJP to form the government in Uttar Pradesh for a third time and invited parties with a similar objective to begin discussions. He recalled AIMIM’s experience during elections in Bihar, saying the party had approached Opposition parties there seeking an electoral understanding. According to Owaisi, AIMIM’s Bihar leadership had written to the RJD, Congress and Left parties seeking six seats but an agreement could not be reached.
The AIMIM chief said the party would nevertheless continue making efforts to bring Opposition forces together in Uttar Pradesh. His latest remarks build on earlier overtures to the Samajwadi Party and other Opposition players ahead of the 2027 election. AIMIM has maintained that any electoral arrangement should recognise the party as an equal partner and treat it with respect.
‘Election will be different’
Owaisi said the coming Uttar Pradesh election would be different from previous electoral contests in the state and predicted a challenging campaign. “This will not be the election of 2014, 2017, 2019 or 2022. It will be a completely different election,” he said.
The AIMIM leader claimed his party had strengthened its organisation in Uttar Pradesh and developed a leadership structure rooted at the grassroots. He said AIMIM leaders and workers were visiting constituencies to expand the organisation and understand local concerns ahead of the polls.
The party has begun intensifying its campaign across Uttar Pradesh, with Owaisi saying it would hold programmes in Shravasti and Azamgarh after Kanpur, followed by meetings in several constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh.
Targets BJP government
Owaisi also attacked the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over governance, alleging that several promises made by the ruling party had not been fulfilled. He raised issues related to law and order, electricity supply and land disputes.
He also criticised both the present BJP government and the previous Samajwadi Party administration over law and order, alleging that the nature of “hooliganism” had changed between the two governments.
Owaisi further raised questions over an alleged case concerning funds associated with the Ram temple and demanded that the report of a Special Investigation Team be made public. He questioned why the report had not been released and sought answers over bail being granted to people accused in the matter.
AIMIM steps up campaign
AIMIM has been seeking to expand its presence in Uttar Pradesh after failing to win a seat in the 2022 Assembly elections despite contesting dozens of constituencies. The party has already begun groundwork for the 2027 contest and has been focusing on constituencies where it believes it can build a stronger organisational presence.
Owaisi’s renewed alliance pitch comes as Opposition parties begin positioning themselves for the next Assembly election. While AIMIM has publicly signalled its willingness to negotiate, no formal electoral arrangement with the Samajwadi Party or another major Opposition party has been announced.