NEW DELHI: The five seats won by Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM in Seemanchal region of east Bihar, where Muslim voters have a substantial presence, reflect the community’s willingness to diversify its options in areas where it feels secure that experimentation may not benefit BJP.Results show that AIMIM won five of nine constituencies with more than 40% Muslim population, with its Muslim candidates securing decisive victories. They defeated four Muslim candidates fielded either by Mahagathbandhan or JDU, and in one seat, the party defeated a Hindu candidate from BJP. In three of the five victories, AIMIM defeated NDA candidates, including two from JDU. The five seats won by AIMIM are Baisi, Jokihat, Bahadurganj, Kochadhaman and Amour.The party also fielded seven candidates in constituencies where Muslim population ranges between 25% and 40%, but it failed to win any of these seats, which went to NDA. Except for Congress, which won Kishanganj seat, neither RJD nor CPIML-Liberation registered a victory in the belt – marking a shift from the decades-long pattern of Muslims backing an RJD-led alliance. The outcome points to something larger – a desire to look beyond Hindu-led parties and prefer an outfit seen as their “own,” even at the risk of aiding BJP and its allies. This pattern first surfaced in the 2020 elections when Muslims in Seemanchal voted for Owaisi despite accusations from RJD and Congress that he was BJP’s “B-team.” AIMIM had then won five seats, though four later defected to RJD. Yet the party’s base does not appear eroded. Owaisi has tapped into the community’s “sense of hurt” over what political scientists term “invisibilisation,” pointing out how secular parties seek Muslim votes but hesitate to offer “fair” representation. The results indicate that many in the community are listening – something that may, in the future, force secular parties to confront tough choices over greater Muslim representation.
