The political landscape of Bihar is heating up with alliance discussions ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Amidst this, TV9 Digital hosted a digital meeting, providing a platform for diverse political viewpoints. The final session of this digital meeting took place in Purnia. During this session, AIMIM’s Adil Hasan declared that his party is not an enemy of the RJD, citing the RJD’s past failures in defeating the NDA. Hasan insisted that Tejashwi Yadav’s path to becoming Chief Minister hinges on AIMIM’s support. RJD spokesperson Dr. Alok swiftly countered this, dismissing the notion of AIMIM having a significant presence in the Seemanchal region.
When questioned about the strategic direction of the AIMIM, specifically whether they would be focusing on challenging the NDA or the RJD in Purnia, Hasan responded by emphasizing their commitment to justice for Seemanchal. He highlighted the efforts of Asaduddin Owaisi, including the introduction of a private bill in Parliament concerning the region’s development. Hasan emphasized that they are not adversaries of the RJD and have consistently supported opposition parties.
Adil Hasan criticized the RJD, stating that if they were unable to defeat the NDA in the last several elections, then why they were making strong claims. He further added that, together, they could fight and they would have a chance to win. According to Hasan, the RJD and AIMIM losses benefited the BJP.
In response, Dr. Alok suggested that if the AIMIM wanted to obstruct the BJP, they could achieve this by supporting the RJD without necessarily contesting elections.
Dr. Alok also suggested that certain elements within AIMIM might be acting at the behest of the BJP, aiming to mislead the public with exaggerated claims and create a false narrative.
Dr. Alok also added that Lalu Yadav’s main aim is to prevent communal forces from rising and his party will make all the necessary sacrifices to prevent communal elements from harming the state and will try to stop the BJP.
Political analyst Pankaj Bhartiya stated that the AIMIM does indeed have a presence in the Seemanchal region, regardless of the RJD’s attempts to downplay it. He noted that AIMIM demonstrated its political strength in 2020. He also questioned the RJD’s motivation for denying AIMIM’s influence, suggesting that the RJD and Congress are hesitant to share their perceived dominance over minority voters.
Pankaj Bhartiya believes that the RJD and Congress believe that minority voters are their core vote base and do not want to create a new alliance with the AIMIM. According to him, when Owaisi comes to Seemanchal, he speaks in a very aggressive manner. He also stated that AIMIM is a strong political force in Seemanchal.
Adil Hasan also said that if AIMIM contests 100 seats, RJD’s position will be weakened, adding that, in order to prevent the BJP from returning to power, AIMIM is seeking an alliance with the RJD.
Dr. Alok disputed this, stating that the AIMIM’s wins in the 2020 elections in Seemanchal were due to the popularity of the candidates, not just the party. He added that AIMIM does not have strong support in Seemanchal.
When asked about Prashant Kishor’s potential impact, Adil Hasan acknowledged his arrival, while also pointing out that he is not a good actor and his efforts should be applauded.