Asaduddin Owaisi, Chandrashekhar Azad tie up sealed to prevent BJP 3.0: What this alliance means for Uttar Pradesh
Owaisi had earlier given the SP and Congress until October 2 to respond to his proposal for an alliance. As no agreement was reached, AIMIM began exploring an alternative partnership with Azad's party.
PTC News Desk: Asaduddin Owaisi announced Chandrashekhar Azad as the alliance's chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh, saying, "I am happy to announce that our brother Chandrashekhar Azad will be the chief president of the SPM and its chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh."
Owaisi also accused political parties of using backward classes, Dalits and other weaker sections of society merely as vote banks.
He said the Samajik Parivartan Morcha (SPM) would focus on major issues such as the poor condition of education, unemployment among young people and the problems faced by farmers.
"We will do politics for the future. We hope the people of Uttar Pradesh will join hands with Chandrashekhar Azad to build a better future," Owaisi said. He added that the success of the alliance would mean success for the people of the state.
When asked whether the SPM was being formed as a third political front in Uttar Pradesh, Azad said it was not just another electoral option but a platform to bring social change.
Owaisi also invited people to attend a public meeting on November 26, describing it as the beginning of a movement for social change in the state.
Why is the alliance important ?
The formation of the SPM comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the Samajwadi Party (SP)-Congress alliance is preparing to challenge its position.
The new alliance brings together two leaders who are looking to strengthen their support among Dalit and Muslim voters, two important voter groups in Uttar Pradesh.
For Owaisi, the alliance could help expand the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's (AIMIM) presence beyond its existing support base.
For Azad, the partnership could provide a bigger platform to reach more Dalit voters, especially young people.
The move also comes after Owaisi's efforts to join the opposition INDIA bloc's electoral arrangement in Uttar Pradesh failed to make progress. His proposal to discuss seat-sharing with the SP and Congress did not receive a positive response.
How could the alliance affect Uttar Pradesh politics ?
The entry of the SPM adds another political player to the state, where the BJP-led NDA and the SP-Congress alliance are expected to be the main contenders.
In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections:
BJP: 255 seats
Samajwadi Party: 111 seats
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP): 1 seat
Congress: 2 seats
AIMIM contested 95 seats but failed to win any as it received around 0.49 per cent of the total votes. The Azad Samaj Party also failed to win a seat. The BSP remains another important factor in the state's politics. Party chief Mayawati has announced that her party will contest the 2027 Assembly elections independently and focus on rebuilding its support among Dalit voters.
Owaisi had earlier given the SP and Congress until October 2 to respond to his proposal for an alliance. As no agreement was reached, AIMIM began exploring an alternative partnership with Azad's party.