In a decisive step reflecting his growing national ambition, Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on Sunday announced the party’s first list of 25 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
The list — which notably includes two candidates from the Hindu community — underscores Owaisi’s bid to reposition AIMIM as a pan-regional and inclusive political force rather than a party confined to Muslim-dominated pockets.
We are happy to announce the list of AIMIM candidates for the upcoming Bihar elections.
The candidates were finalised by the Bihar unit in consultation with the party’s national leadership. Inshallah, we will be a voice of justice for Bihar’s weakest and most neglected,” the AIMIM said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Broadening Horizons: From Seemanchal to Statewide Presence
AIMIM’s first list marks a clear strategic shift. Traditionally rooted in the Seemanchal region — which includes the districts of Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria, and Katihar — the party is now expanding its footprint to regions such as Darbhanga, Siwan, Munger, Bhagalpur, and Gopalganj.
This deliberate diversification signals Owaisi’s effort to transform the AIMIM from a regional outfit into a statewide political contender with appeal across communities.
AIMIM spokesperson Mohammed Adil Hasan affirmed this broader intent:Our party has fielded candidates, most of whom have strong political backgrounds, from various parts of Bihar. Two Hindu candidates will contest from Dhaka and Sikandra.”
The Candidates: A Mix of Experience and Symbolism
The list includes several prominent names:
- Akhtarul Alam, the party’s lone MLA and Bihar unit chief, has been renominated from Amour.
- Former minister and ex-Begusarai MP Munazir Hasan will contest from Munger.
- Four-time MLA Tauseef Alam will fight from Bahadurganj.
The two non-Muslim candidates — a notable inclusion in AIMIM’s electoral strategy — are:
- Rana Ranjit Singh (son of former MP Sitaram Singh), contesting from Dhaka.
- Manoj Kumar Das from Sikandra.
Ranjit Singh recently made headlines for offering a Tricolour pagdi (headgear) to Owaisi — a gesture seen as symbolic of AIMIM’s attempt to promote inclusive nationalism and a broader appeal beyond its traditional voter base.
In 2020, AIMIM had refrained from contesting these two constituencies as they were allocated to its then ally, Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP (now Rashtriya Lok Morcha).
The BJP and HAM (Secular) had won Dhaka and Sikandra, respectively.
AIMIM’s Political Arc in Bihar
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls, AIMIM had contested 20 seats, securing victory in five, all located within Seemanchal.
However, the party’s momentum was blunted when four of its MLAs defected to the RJD in 2022, leaving the organization weakened.
Now, Owaisi seems determined to rebuild and expand. His strategy involves both grassroots mobilization and strategic alliances to strengthen AIMIM’s presence across Bihar’s political landscape.
New Alliance, New Ambition: The Grand Democratic Alliance
In a bold political move, Owaisi recently formed the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) — a coalition that brings together like-minded parties aiming to offer an alternative to both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan.
The GDA includes:
- AIMIM, led by Owaisi.
- Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), led by Chandrashekhar Azad.
- Apni Janta Party (AJP), led by Swami Prasad Maurya.
Under the seat-sharing agreement, AIMIM will contest 35 seats, ASP (Kanshi Ram) 25, and AJP four.
The alliance was announced after the RJD repeatedly snubbed Owaisi’s proposal to join the Mahagathbandhan, prompting him to carve out his own political path.
Owaisi’s Evolving Political Vision
Owaisi’s latest electoral play in Bihar reflects his multi-pronged approach — one that combines ideological steadfastness with pragmatic expansion.
Once dismissed as a regional force limited to Hyderabad’s Old City, Owaisi has consistently attempted to extend AIMIM’s influence into new territories — from Maharashtra and Bengal to Uttar Pradesh and now Bihar.
By fielding Hindu candidates and contesting in non-traditional constituencies, he seeks to challenge the narrative that AIMIM is a sectarian party, instead projecting it as a voice of the marginalized and underrepresented — across caste and community lines.
With Bihar voting in two phases on November 6 and 11, and the last date for filing nominations for the second phase closing on Monday, AIMIM’s campaign machinery is already in full swing.
However, Owaisi faces stiff competition, notably from Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, which has fielded 21 Muslim candidates, potentially cutting into AIMIM’s support base.
The Road Ahead
As Owaisi positions himself as a national political voice for the marginalized, the Bihar elections will serve as a crucial litmus test for his expanding ambitions.
Whether his inclusive messaging and alliance strategy translate into tangible electoral gains remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — AIMIM’s Bihar experiment is as much about reclaiming Seemanchal as it is about redefining Owaisi’s political brand on the national stage.
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