Owaisi opens door to pre-poll alliance for 2027 UP elections

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said no single party can stop the BJP alone in Uttar Pradesh and invited like-minded parties for talks ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. He made the remarks while resuming the party's campaign in Kanpur on Sunday, with further public meetings scheduled in Shravasti on 27 September and Azamgarh on 11 October. The Times of India reports Owaisi cautioned that the upcoming contest will be "a completely different election" from previous ones.

Owaisi criticised both the BJP and the previous Samajwadi Party government, alleging unfulfilled promises and different forms of "hooliganism" under each regime. He also sought public release of the SIT report into the alleged Ram Mandir embezzlement case. The Hindustan Times reports that AIMIM could contest 150-200 seats if it fights alone, though the number may change depending on alliance talks. In the 2022 UP polls, the party won no seats with a 0.46-0.5 per cent vote share.

Owaisi recalled that AIMIM had sought six seats in Bihar but was rebuffed by opposition parties. The party's national spokesperson told the Hindustan Times that talks with smaller parties are ongoing and candidates are likely to be finalised by end of October. The Economic Times reports Owaisi saying the party will continue its organisational work regardless of alliance discussions.