NEW DELHI: The Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has unveiled its first list of 25 candidates for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, a slate that includes two non-Muslim names.While AIMIM is primarily perceived as a Muslim-centric party, it has previously nominated Dalit, OBC, and Hindu candidates in Telangana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, a trend it now extends to Bihar.AIMIM’s decision to field two non-Muslim candidates – Rana Ranjit Singh from Dhaka and Manoj Kumar Das from Sikandra – underscores Owaisi’s long-term strategy to reposition the party as a social justice-oriented, multi-community platform not confined to Muslim-majority constituencies.Owaisi’s party had vowed to contest 100 seats in the Bihar polls after being spurned by the Mahagathbandhan. In the last assembly election, AIMIM contested 19 seats and won five, though four of its MLAs later crossed over to the RJD.The party had earlier written to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son, Tejashwi Yadav, expressing willingness to join the INDIA bloc, but received no response.With two non-Muslim faces in its first list, Owaisi now seeks to move beyond his traditional Muslim voter base in Bihar. Beyond SeemanchalIn the 2020 assembly elections, AIMIM’s five-seat success came entirely from the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region. This time, however, the party aims to project itself as more than a “minority-centric” outfit by contesting new territories in North and South Bihar.AIMIM’s state president Akhtarul Iman told PTI earlier: “Our plan is to contest 100 seats. Both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan will be forced to realise our presence.”He also asserted that the Mahagathbandhan, which in 2020 accused AIMIM of splitting secular votes, could no longer make that claim.”It is now common knowledge that I wrote to (RJD president) Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav, expressing willingness for a tie-up. But no response came. Now, we must do all that we can to expand our footprints,” Iman said.Political message: ‘Nyay for all’Owaisi and Iman have both emphasised that the party will focus on “justice for Bihar’s weakest and most neglected” rather than communal representation. The inclusion of non-Muslim names aligns with Owaisi’s national rebranding effort – positioning AIMIM as a rights-based platform that appeals to marginalised Hindus, Dalits, and EBCs in addition to Muslims.As Owaisi wrote on X while releasing the list: “We are happy to announce the list of AIMIM candidates for the upcoming Bihar elections. The candidates were finalised by AIMIM’s Bihar Unit, in consultation with the party’s national leadership. Inshallah, we will be a voice of justice for Bihar’s weakest and most neglected.”This selection seems aimed at expanding AIMIM’s social base by connecting with Dalit, OBC, and smaller caste groups in regions where the party previously had little presence.The candidatesBy nominating Ranjit Singh, a Rajput leader who recently offered Owaisi a “tricolour pagdi” at a public rally, AIMIM seeks to soften charges of sectarianism and attract moderate Hindu voters sceptical of its earlier image.Similarly, Manoj Kumar Das’s candidacy in Sikandra, a constituency with significant Dalit and SC voters, symbolises outreach to Ambedkarite groups and reflects AIMIM’s alliance with Chandrashekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party.After the Mahagathbandhan snub, AIMIM formed the GDA in Bihar, partnering with Azad Samaj Party and Apna Janata Party (AJP).Owaisi’s strategy now seeks to challenge the NDA–Mahagathbandhan monopoly over lower-caste votes and signal that AIMIM is willing to share political space with Hindus and Dalits, not just Muslims. Whether AIMIM’s inclusive outreach translates into electoral success or remains a symbolic gesture will depend on how far Owaisi’s ‘nyay for all’ message resonates beyond his core base. Go to Source
