AIMIM MLAs affirm unity after meeting CM

Patna: A day after a group of newly elected AIMIM legislators called on CM Nitish Kumar, triggering speculation, state president Akhtarul Iman said on Tuesday there was no question of shifting alliances, stating they remain intact.

The AIMIM won a total of five seats in Bihar this time.“We are very much intact this time, and there is no question of moving anywhere… No possibility this time,” Iman told TOI on Tuesday. “If we do, we will suffer huge loss,” he said, adding, “jane se fayda nahin, ulta nuksan hoga”.The speculation followed the meeting of three AIMIM legislators – Iman himself, Murshid Alam, and Sarvar Ali – with the CM at his residence on Monday.

Political temperature rose when Alam described Nitish as his “political guru” whom he cannot forget.The rumours were fuelled by the fact that four of the five AIMIM legislators who won in 2020 joined the RJD last time. This time, however, the NDA has an absolute majority in the 243-member Bihar assembly with 202 seats.“Well, we are political adversaries, but it is also a fact that Nitishji is my ‘political guru’ who gave me a platform in politics,” Alam told the reporters on Tuesday, adding that the CM’s style has always impressed him.

During the meeting, he requested the opening of three degree colleges in his constituency, and the CM promised to look into it.Iman said the AIMIM delegation met the CM regarding the upcoming army base being built between Kochadhaman and Bahadurganj, which affects a large population. “The area where the army base is being built is densely populated, has many marginal farmers, and contains numerous places of worship. So the army base at this place is not proper,” Iman said, appealing to Nitish to consider their request.Rejecting speculation over their meeting, Iman asked, “What a strange irony! If the opposition won't meet the CM and Deputy CM, then who will they meet?”