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NEW DELHI: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has increased his attack on the opposition Mahagathbandhan, questioning why the alliance has not named any Muslim leader as its deputy chief minister face for the Bihar elections.Speaking at an election rally in Kishanganj on Wednesday, Owaisi referred to VIP chief Vikas Sahani and said that if a leader from the Malla community can be projected for the deputy chief minister's post, then a leader from the Muslim community can also aim for the positions of Chief Minister and even Prime Minister. Addressing supporters, Owaisi said, "Sitting next to Tejashwi Yadav, Mukesh Bhai of the VIP Party, confident in his community's history, declared that the Malla community is with Tejashwi. The Malla community represents 3% of Bihar's population. He declared that if they gain power, he will become the deputy CM... If a Malla's son will become the deputy chief minister, what will the 17% minority community in Bihar do? Are they only to spread 'Dari ' (carpet)?"
He added, "If a Malla's son can become the deputy chief minister, then Mohammad's son can also become the Prime Minister or chief minister.
Nothing can stop us from achieving our goals. Remember, the more you dream, the more you trust in Allah's will, and the more you strive along the way, the more you will see the clearer the path will become."
On Tuesday, Owaisi had raised a similar question. He said, "Why cannot a Muslim, who represents 17 per cent of the state's population, become the chief minister? After all, they seem to have no problem with promising the deputy CM's post to a person who represents only three per cent of the population."
He criticised Congress, RJD and Samajwadi Party, saying these parties seek Muslim votes without offering leadership roles. Owaisi said, "Parties like Congress, RJD and Samajwadi Party seek votes of Muslims, cashing in on the minority community's fear of the BJP. These parties have not been able to stop the BJP but are still trying to get the votes of Muslims under the same pretext." He also targeted the BJP. Owaisi said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi claims to take all along and strive to work for the progress of all.
But his party fails to give tickets, in elections, to a single Muslim."
Tejashwi avoids reaction to Owaisi
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav declined to respond to Owaisi’s remarks. When asked, he said, "Leave it. What can I say about it?" Tejashwi is the Mahagathbandhan’s declared chief minister candidate. In the previous assembly elections, AIMIM contested 19 seats and won five, though four of its MLAs later moved to the RJD. In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, AIMIM contested 20 seats and won five, all from the Seemanchal belt.
Seemanchal includes Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj and Purnia, located close to the West Bengal border. The Muslim population in Bihar is around 17.7%, and Muslims form about 40% of the population in at least 11 constituencies. They have a decisive influence on around 47 seats. The four districts of Kishanganj, Araria, Purnia and Katihar have 24 seats that will go to polls in the second phase. These districts have a high Muslim population.
For many years, this region was seen as a strong area for the RJD and Congress. Owaisi first contested here in 2015 but did not win. Before the 2020 elections, AIMIM won a bypoll seat in Kishanganj. In 2020, the party won five seats — two each in Kishanganj and Purnia, and one in Araria. This changed the electoral maths in multiple seats, reducing the RJD-Congress vote share. The NDA finally defeated the Opposition by a slim margin, where a difference of only 12,000 votes separated the two sides in the final seat tally. The Mahagathbandhan released its manifesto on Tuesday, titled 'Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran'. It promises that within 20 days of forming the government, a law will be passed to give one government job per family. The 2025 Bihar assembly elections will take place between the National Democratic Alliance (BJP, JD-U, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha) and the Mahagathbandhan (RJD, Congress, CPI-ML, CPI, CPM and VIP). Polling will be held in two phases, on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14.
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