Asaduddin Owaisi signals openness to AIMIM alliance against BJP in Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2027 assembly elections

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi addresses a public rally in Kanpur on September 20, 2026 | Photo credit: ANI

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said he is open to an alliance with parties that want to prevent the BJP from returning to power in Uttar Pradesh for a third consecutive term. Addressing a public meeting in Kanpur’s Cantonment constituency on Sunday (September 20, 2026), he urged voters to strengthen AIMIM’s presence in the state and said the (Muslim) community needed a “voice” in the UP Assembly.

“We also don’t want a BJP government to form in UP for the third time. If you want to stop the BJP from forming the government again, come and join hands with AIMIM,” he said.

The Hyderabad MP said his party would wait till October 2 before announcing any alliance. He also referred to a similar proposal by AIMIM during the Bihar elections, saying his party had offered to contest six seats as part of the alliance but was instead subjected to “false allegations”.

Targeting Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Mr Owaisi asked the audience: “Your Akhilesh ‘bhaiya’ came to power, how many riots took place?” He then referred to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, saying about 50,000 people were displaced from their homes and villages, and questioned the representation of Muslims in the SP government at the time.

Mr. Owaisi also accused successive governments in the state of not addressing the socio-economic and educational problems of Muslims. “Now elections are coming, so many people will come to you. They will show you the old fear,” he said, referring to appeals to Muslim voters to support established political parties to prevent the BJP from returning to power.

Mr. Owaisi also hit out at the BJP government over its moves on madrassas and mentioned the role of Muslim clerics and religious scholars in the freedom struggle. He also criticized Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his allusions to freedom fighter and former Congress president Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar.

Talking about the history of Kanpur madrasas, the AIMIM chief claimed that Muslim ulema had issued a fatwa against the British during the freedom movement.

Published – 21 Sep 2026 10:15 IST