Asaduddin Owaisi: As the Bihar Legislative Assembly election of 2025 approaches, the political landscape is intensifying — and there appears to be one name shaking up the political apple cart: Asaduddin Owaisi, president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Owaisi’s party has a growing support base in the Seemanchal region of Bihar and may play an important role in the overall outcome of the elections, particularly for Tejashwi Yadav and the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance).
The AIMIM’s Growing Influence
The AIMIM has steadily carved out a presence in the eastern Bihar region, particularly in districts with a Muslim majority, such as Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar, and Purnea. In the 2020 Assembly elections, the AIMIM shocked political pundits when it won five seats. In other words, the AIMIM has the potential, and evidence of this, to chip away at traditional vote banks. While most of those MLAs subsequently jumped to the RJD and Mahagathbandhan, the result remains a lingering artefact. Now with the 2025 elections upon us, Owaisi’s newfound interest in Bihar suggests that he is serious about expanding the AIMIM’s reach and presenting AIMIM as the voice of disenfranchised Muslim communities.
The Dilemma for Tejashwi Yadav: Preserving the Vote Bank
The AIMIM’s revival is a real dilemma for Tejashwi Yadav, the young leader of RJD. For years, the Muslim – Yadav (MY) combination has been the bedrock of RJD’s success. But if AIMIM is able to win even a marginal share of the Muslim vote, it could shift the balance in important constituencies toward the NDA.
Political analysts think that even a 5 – 7% shift in votes in Muslim-dominated areas would hinder Mahagathbandhan’s overall performance. Therefore, RJD leadership went into overdrive mode with outreach programs to shore up minority support to eliminate the influence of AIMIM.
Owaisi’s Position: “We Are Not Vote Cutters”
Asaduddin Owaisi, for his part, has rejected claims of being vote cutters. In a recent rally, he stated, “We are not here to cut votes. We are here to represent people who have been ignored by every party.” According to Owaisi, the AIMIM’s growing appeal is the result of real disappointment with the behaviors of both national and regional party players who, in his words, “remember Muslims only during election time.”
A Decision Still Long Off
While it is too soon to predict an electoral outcome, one thing is clear — Owaisi has changed the discussion. By his involvement, Muslim representation and regional development will remain on the agenda of Bihar’s political discourse.
For Tejashwi Yadav, the path to the throne in 2025 may be trickier than he thought. And for AIMIM, this determined whether the election remains a marginal player or turns into an important player in Bihar’s ever-changing power politicking.
