AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has proposed an alliance with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, saying his party is prepared to work with Akhilesh Yadav’s organisation to challenge the BJP in the state. At the same time, Owaisi indicated that the AIMIM could contest the election independently if the Samajwadi Party does not agree to an alliance.
The proposal comes as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. Owaisi has been seeking a larger role for the AIMIM in the state’s electoral politics and has argued that opposition parties need to coordinate if they want to prevent the BJP from retaining political dominance.
Owaisi Pitches Opposition Unity
Owaisi has repeatedly criticised the BJP while also seeking greater representation for his party in Uttar Pradesh. In his latest remarks, he directly addressed the possibility of working with the Samajwadi Party.
The AIMIM leader’s proposal places the SP at the centre of his alliance strategy. The Samajwadi Party is currently one of the principal opposition forces in Uttar Pradesh, and any understanding between the two parties could have implications for electoral contests in constituencies where opposition votes are divided.
Owaisi’s message was accompanied by a warning that the AIMIM would not necessarily wait indefinitely for an agreement. If the proposed arrangement does not materialise, the party is prepared to enter the electoral contest on its own, according to his remarks.
Why the Proposal Matters in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh has a major role in national politics because of its large number of Lok Sabha constituencies and its sizeable Assembly. Electoral alliances in the state can therefore have consequences beyond individual constituencies.
For the opposition, vote consolidation has remained a recurring issue. The presence of multiple parties competing for overlapping voter groups can affect the outcome of closely fought seats. Owaisi’s latest proposal appears aimed at addressing that possibility by bringing AIMIM into a broader anti-BJP arrangement.
However, an alliance between the AIMIM and SP would involve negotiations over seat-sharing, candidate selection and the political messaging of the coalition. No agreement between the two parties has been announced so far.
AIMIM Could Fight Alone
Owaisi has also made clear that the AIMIM is prepared for a separate electoral campaign if discussions with the Samajwadi Party do not lead to an understanding.
That position gives the party two possible routes ahead of the election: participate as part of a wider opposition alliance or contest independently. The final decision could depend on negotiations with the SP as well as the AIMIM’s assessment of its organisational strength across Uttar Pradesh.
The Samajwadi Party has yet to publicly accept Owaisi’s proposal, leaving the possibility of an alliance uncertain.
The development nevertheless adds another element to the political preparations in Uttar Pradesh. With the election still ahead, parties are expected to focus on coalition-building, candidate selection and constituency-level strategies. Whether Owaisi’s offer results in a formal understanding with the SP or leads to an independent AIMIM campaign will become clearer as the electoral process moves forward.
