As political parties are mulling over their pre-poll alliance options ahead of next year’s assembly polls, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Saturday indicated that it may join hands with it. Samajwadi Party (SP) If a Muslim MLA takes oath as Deputy Chief Minister in the event of an electoral victory.
The AIMIM, headed by Asaduddin Owaisi, is part of the Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha formed by Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar. Rajbhar has stitched together the rainbow alliance of “over 10 parties”, including AIMIM, Apna Dal faction of Krishna Patel, Rashtroday Party, Rashtriya Bhagidari Party, Janta Kranti Party among others.
“That has always been our stand, and we have made it very clear now. When there are 20 per cent Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, why not the Deputy CM of that community? If a party forms an alliance with another party, there are always certain conditions. Rajbhar has shown an even bigger heart and has said that he will replace five CMs and 20 deputy CMs from different communities. We want to know whether SP has only one objective, that is to stop it. BJP, or also believe in inclusion of all,” AIMIM UP state president Shaukat Ali said on Saturday.
Earlier this month, Rajbhar had said that the Morcha would appoint a new chief minister and four deputy chief ministers every year if voted to power in the state.
“We have said that we are ready for an alliance with secular parties to stop the BJP. But, is SP President Akhilesh Yadav ready to make a Muslim the Deputy Chief Minister of the state? He asked.
Yadav had said that he was ready to forge a pre-poll alliance with smaller parties, but not with bigger parties.
After forging an alliance with the SBSP earlier this month, Ali had said that he had won over 100 seats, mainly focusing on Muslim-populated districts of western UP such as Moradabad, Amroha, Sambhal, Bareilly and Ghaziabad. Preparation has started. “We are new here. But if the front is successful and more political parties join us, we will definitely stop the BJP,” Ali had said.
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