📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Batthini Vinay Kumar Goud
Politics
Asaduddin Owaisi accuses BJP, Samajwadi Party of exploiting Muslims in Uttar Pradesh
✍️ NDTV
🗓 04 Nov 2026, 03:52 PM
👁 1
Owaisi's party reiterated that both the BJP and the Samajwadi Party treat the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh as a captive vote bank, intensifying communal rhetoric ahead of upcoming elections.
Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the All India Majlis‑e‑Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), used a post‑US Senate race platform to highlight what he described as systematic marginalisation of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. He warned that political parties in the state were increasingly treating the community as a fixed electoral bloc rather than addressing genuine concerns.
Owaisi specifically accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of targeting Muslims through policies and rhetoric that he said fostered fear and division. He also criticised the regional opposition, the Samajwadi Party, for allegedly viewing the Muslim electorate merely as a captive vote bank, without offering substantive development promises.
The statements come as Uttar Pradesh prepares for a crucial electoral cycle, with both national and regional parties vying for dominance. Owaisi’s remarks aim to position AIMIM as a voice for inclusive politics and to challenge the narrative that Muslim votes can be taken for granted.
Political analysts note that such accusations could sharpen communal fault lines ahead of the polls, potentially influencing voter behaviour in the state’s 403 assembly constituencies.
Owaisi concluded by urging all parties to adopt policies that address the socio‑economic needs of the Muslim community, emphasizing that sustainable political support must be earned through genuine outreach, not tokenism.
Owaisi specifically accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of targeting Muslims through policies and rhetoric that he said fostered fear and division. He also criticised the regional opposition, the Samajwadi Party, for allegedly viewing the Muslim electorate merely as a captive vote bank, without offering substantive development promises.
The statements come as Uttar Pradesh prepares for a crucial electoral cycle, with both national and regional parties vying for dominance. Owaisi’s remarks aim to position AIMIM as a voice for inclusive politics and to challenge the narrative that Muslim votes can be taken for granted.
Political analysts note that such accusations could sharpen communal fault lines ahead of the polls, potentially influencing voter behaviour in the state’s 403 assembly constituencies.
Owaisi concluded by urging all parties to adopt policies that address the socio‑economic needs of the Muslim community, emphasizing that sustainable political support must be earned through genuine outreach, not tokenism.