AIMIM gears up for Bihar polls, eyeing more seats in Seemanchal, stressing Dalit-minority support, and rejecting Mahagathbandhan’s alliance snub.
AIMIM strengthens Bihar poll push, focusing on Seemanchal and minority-Dalit outreach after failed Mahagathbandhan alliance talks.
NEW DELHI: As the Bihar Assembly elections approach, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) is projecting confidence about mounting a strong challenge, especially in its stronghold of Seemanchal. Leaders of the party have declared that this time they intend to contest a greater number of seats compared to the 2020 elections and are resolute about bettering their earlier performance.
In an interaction with The Sunday Guardian, AIMIM's Bihar president Akhtarul Imam said that the party is preparing extensively for the upcoming polls. Rejecting the perception that Muslim voters are gravitating entirely towards the Mahagathbandhan, Imam asserted, "That is not true. The people are also turning towards AIMIM, and they have confidence in us. Alongside Muslims, a significant section of minorities and Dalits are also considering AIMIM as their option."
When asked to comment on the possible outcome, Imam expressed optimism, noting that AIMIM would "do better than before and surpass its previous record". Imam also reflected on the role of political strategist turned politician Prashant Kishor at the Bihar political scene, saying, "Prashant Kishor is performing well, even though he is new to politics in this state. He is a good person and brings forward important issues."
AIMIM's senior leader and spokesperson Adil Hassan further revealed that the party had, at one point, explored the possibility of a pre-poll understanding with the Mahagathbandhan. According to him, AIMIM sought six seats in the Seemanchal region where the party has a base. However, after their request was not accommodated, AIMIM decided to contest on its own. "The problem lies in their ego. Negotiations did not work out, and since our demands were ignored, we opted to go solo," Hassan explained.
Speaking about the party's past experience, Hassan pointed out that AIMIM had managed to win five seats in the 2020 elections but was eventually reduced to just one MLA due to defections. He underlined that this time the party would adopt a stricter approach in selecting candidates. "We will choose honest and credible individuals. Our supporters remain committed to us and will once again vote for AIMIM. The enthusiastic reception given to our chief during his visits across the four districts of Seemanchal demonstrates the strength of our support in the region," Hassan observed.
Addressing the issue of alliances after the elections, Imam left the matter open-ended. He said, "It will depend on the circumstances. Our primary battle is against the BJP, and our focus is the development of Bihar. Our foremost aim is to defeat the BJP; it was this reason that we had initially proposed a pre-poll alliance to the Mahagathbandhan."
A political observer told the publication that as Seemanchal continues to serve as its traditional bastion, AIMIM is keen on broadening its base in the forthcoming polls and positioning itself as a decisive force in Bihar's political arena.
