Bihar polls: Big test for Asaduddin Owaisi's 6 candidates in 5th phase

New Delhi: In the seemanchal area of Bihar which is going to polls tomorrow, Asaduddin Owaisi has definitely created a mark for his party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), especially among the Muslim youth.

Initially, Owaisi was planning to contest all 24 seats of Seemanchal region. But after realising that his entry will cause split in Muslims votes that will eventually only help the BJP in view of a clear polarisation between NDA and grand-alliance across the state, Owaisi chose to field candidates in only 6 constituencies.

AIMIM candidates are in the electoral  fray in 6 constituencies - Kishanganj, Kochadhaman, Baisi, Amour, Raniganj, Balrampur.
 
Out of these 6 candidates, 5 are Muslims while one candidate from Raniganj reserved seat belongs to Dalit community.

If political commentators are to be believed Owaisi’s party may not get votes in large numbers this time because the Muslim community seems to have made up mind to throw its weight behind grand-alliance of Lalu and Nitish. They seem to be aware of the fact that any division will benefit the BJP and this is something which seems to be going against AIMIM.

But if the BJP succeeds in trouncing grand-alliance in these elections then it will result in a more forceful entry of Owaisi’s party in Bihar. In that case, Owaisi will tell Muslims that despite his party keeping away from elections in majority of the seats, the so-called secular parties (in his words) failed to halt the juggernaut of BJP-led NDA. And that will pave the way for full-fledged arrival of AIMIM in Bihar.

After impressing show in Maharashtra Assembly elections, the recent successes of AIMIM in UP and Maharashtra civic elections has further emboldened Owaisi’s pan-Indian ambitions and he is already smelling a big electoral opportunity in Bihar, especially in Seemanchal area.