Bihar’s political scene is heating up with the upcoming assembly elections. The main contest is expected between the INDIA bloc and the ruling NDA. Both alliances are intensifying their campaigns. However, other parties are also positioning themselves. AIMIM, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, made a significant impact in the last elections. The party is preparing to contest the elections again, with the aim of potentially forming a third front.
Akhtarul Iman, the Bihar AIMIM president, proposed to the INDIA bloc a united front against the NDA. Speaking about the plan, Iman said that they had approached the Mahagathbandhan with a proposal to fight the elections together against the NDA and the Bharatiya Janata Party, but there has been no response. He added that the party is preparing for the Bihar elections. AIMIM might contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections independently, challenging both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan based on their merits. They are also working towards creating a third front to offer an alternative and are in talks with regional parties.
This move follows the Mahagathbandhan’s limited interest in a joint electoral approach with AIMIM.
Iman, known as the ‘Junior Owaisi’ in Seemanchal, is a respected leader in the region. He stated that AIMIM has a strong base in the area, among both Muslims and Hindus, because of its efforts for the region’s overall development. Before this, Asaduddin Owaisi had stated that Iman is the right person to make any decisions regarding contesting elections in Bihar. When asked if any discussion had taken place with VIP party chief Mukesh Sahani, he said that he has heard Sahani’s statement but there has been no conversation with him.
Iman revealed the party’s plan to contest on 100 out of the 243 assembly seats in the state. He also mentioned the possibility of seat adjustments if a third front is formed. In the 2020 elections, AIMIM won five seats, all in the Seemanchal region, where the Muslim population is significant. However, in 2022, four of its MLAs switched to the RJD. The party is aiming to make an impact in the upcoming elections, potentially through a third front.
Political analysts believe that if AIMIM contests independently or forms a third front, it could negatively impact the INDIA bloc. If the party contests independently or forms a third front, political analysts say that the INDIA bloc is likely to suffer more losses.