The declaration by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi to create the United Democratic Secular Alliance (UDSA) with past MP and Samajwadi Janata Dal (Democratic) Chief Devendra Prasad Yadav for the forthcoming Bihar assembly elections has given an intriguing turn to the fight at the hustings. With the SJD (D) and Owaisi entering the poll arena in Bihar together, the political battle won’t be simple for any of the parties in the Seemanchal locale of the state.
Forming an alliance with Devendra Yadav’s party, Owaisi has made a political movement to play a spoiler of votes in favour of the Yadav and Muslim voters of Bihar who are viewed as the conventional pocket boroughs of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
In spite of the fact that the UDSA has not yet chosen the number of seats, it will contest in the Assembly races, it is accepted that the alliance will handle their competitors in Kosi and Purnia districts.
The Muslim vote will probably be conclusive in 15 to 17 seats in Seemanchal however there are numerous other constituencies where Muslim voters could impact the poll results.
In the 2015 election races, Owaisi’s party had handled candidates for six seats and every one of them endured huge defeats. On five seats, his party candidates had lost their deposits. In any case, in 2019 the AIMIM’s Qamrul Hoda had won the Kishanganj seat in the Bihar bypolls.
Political expert and senior reporter from Kishanganj Ratneshwar Jha thinks that in the wake of the alliance by Owaisi and Yadav, it is sure that there will be a split in the Yadav and Muslim votes to the detriment of the RJD.
As stated by Jha: The voters who will be targeted by the UDSA have been considered to be the vote banks of the Opposition grand alliance (Mahagathbandhan) so the number of votes that UDSA gets will only harm the Mahagathbandhan.
Owaisi’s poll campaign has consistently been competitive and polarizing so it would not be shocking if he manages to swing voters in his support from different regions of Bihar too.
RJD representative Mrityunjay Tiwari denies any political danger from the AIMIM-SJD (D) partnership, saying: There is a direct political fight between two ideologies in Bihar. Apart from this, whichever party is contesting this election and at whose behest they do so, the people of Bihar know it well. Whichever party tries to weaken the political fight against the BJP, the people of the state will give them a befitting reply.
The RJD may dismiss the UDSA yet it will doubtlessly make a cut in the Muslim and Yadav vote banks. In the Muslim-dominated regions, Owaisi could handle his party candidates which may deliver the BJP political dividends. It is sure that not all Muslims will decide in favour of Owaisi and there will be a split in the community’s votes.
On the AIMIM-SJD alliance giving the BJP a political edge, party representative Dr Nikhil Anand stated: Leaders like Owaisi are continually attempting to earn Muslim votes through the politics of appeasement by conjuring the sentiments of the community. The individuals of Bihar obviously comprehend the philosophy of such leaders.
He said the National Democratic Alliance will vanquish those parties who play into politics based on caste and religion. This political election will be battled on the board of improvement in Bihar, he included.
