AIMIM wins five key Seemanchal seats, asserting dominance over RJD.
AIMIM supporters celebrate in Seemanchal as Asaduddin Owaisi’s party wins 5 key seats, consolidating influence in Bihar’s Muslim heartland (Photo: File)
NEW DELHI: After the Bihar Assembly election results, the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) led by Tejashwi Yadav was swept away by the NDA's storm, but, Asaduddin Owaisi still managed to secure victory in Seemanchal. Seemanchal has a total of 24 assembly seats in the Muslim-dominated Kishanganj, Araria, Purnia and Katihar districts. Of these, AIMIM won 5 seats, demonstrating to RJD that it is the king here. AIMIM's strong performance not only dealt a major blow to the MGB but, also indirectly benefited the NDA.
All 5 seats won by AIMIM fall in the center of Seemanchal and are seats where Owaisi's party had also demonstrated its dominance in 2020. In the 2005 elections, Mohammad Murshid Alam from Jokihat, Mohammad Tausif Alam from Bahadurganj, Mohammad Sarwar Alam from Kochadhaman, Akhtarul Iman from Amour, and Ghulam Sarwar from Baisi won. Akhtarul Iman is the party's state president, who served as a five years MLA from 2020 and has been actively involved in the party's work in Bihar. AIMIM managed to maintain its dominance in these seats in Seemanchal, where the Muslim population is the highest at over 60%. With this, Asaduddin Owaisi has avenged Tejashwi Yadav's 2020 defeat.
It is noteworthy that Owaisi's party won 5 seats in 2020, but, all four MLAs, except Akhtarul Iman, the MLA from Amour and state president of AIMIM, joined Tejashwi Yadav's party, the RJD. During that time, Owaisi had also accused Tejashwi Yadav of conspiring to destroy the party. In such a situation, AIMIM has now retained 3 seats where, MLAs had joined RJD after winning. The seats that AIMIM snatched from RJD include Jokihat, Kochadhaman, and Baisi assembly seats.
After securing a landslide victory in these Seemanchal seats, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that this victory was not his, but rather the result of "the people of Seemanchal and the mercy of Allah". Owaisi also said that despite all the rumors, allegations, and the "B-team" tag, the public has reassured him, sending a message that "the relationship has not ended, nor will it end, as long as Owaisi is alive, and will remain so even after him". Furthermore, Owaisi targeted Tejashwi Yadav, saying, "How can a person who cannot convince his elder brother, unite the people of Bihar?" "And now it will be said that we have defeated Laluji's son, we are the Laila of politics, even if people throw stones at us, we will tolerate it," he added.
