Owaisi's AIMIM gearing for the big fight in Uttar Pradesh

HYDERABAD: While the party could not make an impact in the recently-concluded West Bengal elections, the efforts of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) to extend its footprint across India is receiving good response, especially in Uttar Pradesh, party leaders claimed.
Three to four candidates from each assembly constituency are seeking to contest elections on its ticket in the ensuing elections to Uttar Pradesh state assembly.

Men and women from minorities, SC, ST, BC and Yadav communities are mainly seeking to contest on a AIMIM ticket.
Owaisi has already announced that AIMIM will contest 100 of the total 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. However, the alliance partners will sit together and finalise the seats to be contested by each ally. AIMIM is part of the alliance of Bhagedari Sankalp Morcha—led by former minister Om Prakash Rajbhar. This morcha comprises nine various smaller parties. Elections are due to UP state Assembly in February 2022.
Uttar Pradesh AIMIM state president Shaukath Ali confirmed to TOI that the applications from aspirants from more than 100 constituencies in UP have been submitted so far. Even women are coming forward to contest on AIMIM ticket.
“We are asking them to continue their work in their respective constituencies. The party will conduct a survey and finalise the candidates with clean image, good work history and winning prospects,” he said.
On the possibility of poll alliances, he said Congress is a sinking ship and no one wants to sail with it in UP elections. Even the once-strong Left scored a duck in West Bengal by going along with the Congress.
On BSP chief Mayawati ruling out any alliance with AIMIM, Shaukath Ali said smaller parties have vote bank in UP. If Samajwadi Party (SP) or Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) are really serious about defeating the BJP, then either one of them or both the parties should come forward for an alliance with smaller parties like Bhagedari Sankalp Morcha.
Without the support of smaller parties, both SP-BSP alliance could not defeat BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The SP-Congress alliance too failed to defeat BJP in 2017 polls, he added.