The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi secured five seats in the Seemanchal region of Bihar during the recent Assembly elections, matching its 2020 performance. This achievement came despite the NDA sweeping back to power and the Opposition Mahagathbandhan suffering a major defeat. Notably, AIMIM won just one seat less than the Congress, establishing itself as a significant force in the Muslim-dominated region. After the 2020 elections, four AIMIM legislators had defected to the RJD, but the party has now reclaimed its position. Owaisi argues that mainstream opposition parties have failed Seemanchal through neglect and corruption, while his party has consistently raised local issues in the Assembly. He challenges the notion that Muslims must automatically support larger secular parties to stop the BJP, questioning why this responsibility falls exclusively on the Muslim community. The AIMIM's campaign focused on regional underdevelopment, including poor infrastructure, high poverty rates, inadequate healthcare, and lack of educational institutions. Owaisi rejects accusations that his party splits anti-NDA votes, pointing out that opposition parties have not formed governments in Bihar since 2004. He emphasizes that AIMIM has built genuine grassroots support and represents a demand for Muslim political leadership in the region.
Regional Issues and Underdevelopment Drive AIMIM Success
Owaisi attributes AIMIM's victory to its sustained focus on Seemanchal's chronic problems. The party highlighted that 50 percent of Muslims in Bihar live below the poverty line, with Seemanchal having the highest number of anaemic children. Kishanganj district faces severe flooding, affecting half its area. Migration begins at age 16 due to lack of opportunities. The region has only one degree college, while infrastructure projects like AIIMS, IIITs, and sports complexes were built near Patna and Rajgir. AIMIM's sole MLA between 2020 and 2025, Akhtarul Iman, consistently raised these concerns in the Assembly and secured over two lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections. The party promised to push for completion of stalled projects, construction of embankments and bridges, better hospitals, and Vande Bharat train connectivity to Patna and Delhi.
Challenge to Opposition's Claim on Muslim Votes
Owaisi strongly criticized opposition parties for taking Muslim voters for granted while refusing visible Muslim leadership. He noted that Muslims form the largest community in Bihar at 15 percent, larger than Yadavs at 14 percent, yet Yadavs receive 36 percent of RJD tickets while Muslims get minimal representation. The BJP fields no Muslim candidates, while JD(U) fielded only two. The RJD refused alliance with AIMIM, fearing it would alienate Hindu voters. Owaisi called this approach "soft Hindutva," questioning why Muslims alone bear responsibility for stopping the BJP. He asked why parties distribute tickets based on caste without fear but avoid Muslim candidates. Of the four MLAs who defected to RJD in 2020, one was given a ticket from Jokihat and lost his deposit, validating AIMIM's claim that votes belonged to the party symbol, not individuals.
AIMIM Plans Permanent Presence in Bihar Politics
Owaisi declared that AIMIM has established a permanent presence in Seemanchal and will not step back. He emphasized that local leaders like Akhtarul Iman, Gulam Sarwar, and Adil Hasan represent genuine Muslim leadership emerging in the region. The party lost Balrampur by just 350 votes, indicating strong support even in defeat. AIMIM offered "constructive cooperation" to the Nitish Kumar government on development issues affecting Seemanchal. Owaisi rejected the "vote-cutter" label, pointing out that AIMIM contests very few of the 540 Lok Sabha seats and that RJD has not formed a Bihar government since 2004. He stated the party will strengthen its organization, correct past mistakes, and expand further, responding to what he described as a genuine demand within the Muslim community for political representation and voice.
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