The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM is eager to team up with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra to take down the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming elections, revealed party leader Imtiaz Jaleel.
Jaleel, a former MP of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, made this announcement during a meeting in Mumbai and stated his intentions in an interview with Marathi news channel ABP Majha. As the state unit president of AIMIM, Jaleel emphasized the importance of forming a united front against the BJP.
“During the Lok Sabha elections, we proposed the idea of collaborating with MVA to defeat the BJP, and we are extending the offer once again. The decision to include us in the alliance lies in the hands of MVA,” Jaleel stated in a PTI report.
The MVA alliance comprises the Shiv Sena, NCP led by Sharad Pawar, and the Congress party. Given AIMIM’s history of criticism towards Congress and Shiv Sena, Jaleel’s proposal holds significance.
“Our inclusion in the alliance would be beneficial for MVA. However, we are prepared to proceed independently if necessary. It all depends on whether they acknowledge our strength and voter base,” Jaleel emphasized.
Despite past differences with Shiv Sena, Jaleel underscored the urgency of keeping BJP out of power. He explained, “The BJP’s detrimental impact on the nation motivates us to prevent them from governing by any means necessary.”
MVA faces the ruling Mahayuti Alliance comprising BJP, Shiv Sena-Eknath Shinde, and NCP-Ajit Pawar in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.
The current government’s tenure in the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly concludes on November 26, 2024, signaling the need for a new administration before that date.
Jaleel also criticized the Mahayuti government’s ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme, remarking, “After years, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde suddenly noticed the abundance of sisters in the state. The sudden financial aid followed by requests for votes reeks of insincerity and opportunism.”
This shift in strategy is a response to the shock the ruling alliance faced in the Lok Sabha elections, as highlighted by the former Lok Sabha member Jaleel.
In the Lok Sabha polls 2024, MVA secured 31 out of 48 parliamentary seats in the state, while the ruling alliance managed to win only 17, indicating a significant shift in political dynamics.
