Owaisi Hits Back at “BJP’s Team B” Charge, Says RJD Must Explain Its Own Bihar Defeat
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi rejects accusations of aiding the BJP in Bihar, arguing the RJD’s ticket choices and voter shifts not AIMIM led to the Mahagathbandhan’s collapse.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has pushed back strongly against claims that his party acted as the BJP’s “Team B” in Bihar, arguing that the RJD’s heavy losses cannot be pinned on AIMIM’s presence in the contest. Speaking in an interview with NDTV, Owaisi noted that although the AIMIM won five seats, the larger question is why the Mahagathbandhan collapsed so decisively.
Owaisi highlighted that the RJD allocated 36% of its tickets to the Yadav community, which constitutes 14% of Bihar’s population, and questioned why this strategy did not yield votes. He also pointed out the contradiction of promising the Deputy Chief Minister’s post to a community with only 3.5% population, yet blaming Muslims—who form a much larger share of the electorate when the alliance failed.
He argued that the Opposition should examine why other communities, including Brahmins, Thakurs, Bhumihars, and EBC groups, did not rally behind them. “Why must everything be reduced to Muslims?” he asked, calling out what he described as a decades-old habit of projecting minorities as scapegoats after electoral setbacks.
Owaisi reminded that AIMIM initially requested six seats from the Opposition but was turned away, and noted that both Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav have faced repeated electoral defeats since 2014.
Looking ahead, Owaisi confirmed that his party is preparing to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections aggressively, while a decision on Bengal will be taken later. In Bihar’s Seemanchal belt, the AIMIM once again retained all five seats it had won earlier Kochadhaman, Bahadurganj, Amour, Baisi, and Jokihat.
Analysis: Owaisi’s rebuttal signals a widening rift between the AIMIM and the Mahagathbandhan, and highlights deeper questions about coalition strategy in Bihar. His comments resonate in regions where identity politics and seat-sharing patterns significantly influence electoral outcomes. For the Opposition, the challenge now lies in introspection rather than accusation especially as UP and Bengal head toward pivotal elections.