After emerging as a force to be reckoned with in the Bihar assembly elections, Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has set its sights on Tamil Nadu and is ready to compete in the assembly elections that will be held. will celebrate next year.
According to a source close to Owaisi, AIMIM is likely to compete for no fewer than 25 seats in the assembly elections to be held in April or May 2021. The party, they said, may also team up with the actor-turned-politician’s suit. Kamal Haasan Makkal Needhi Maiam.
“Owaisi is having a discussion today (Monday) with his party officials from Tamil Nadu about the assembly elections. Discussions are taking place in Hyderabad, ”the source said, adding that the party is likely to hold conferences in Trichy and Chennai in January to finalize the electoral plan.
Haasan, for his part, also announced Monday that he “will definitely contest the next election.” “I am going to announce later about the constituency I will hold back,” the MNM chief told reporters.
Owaisi and Haasan were previously on the same page, when last year the head of AIMIM backed the latter’s statement that Nathuram Godse, who shot and killed the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, should be called a terrorist.
AIMIM’s fortunes have improved as of late, as the party performed remarkably well in Bihar’s assembly elections, winning five crucial Muslim-dominated constituencies: Baisi, Amour, Kochadhaman, Bahadurganj and Jokihat. He had contested in 20 seats. He also managed to secure 44 seats at the Hyderabad civic polls, giving the BJP a tough fight for second place.
Owaisi has succeeded in creating a Muslim constituency and the party hopes to reap similar electoral success in Tamil Nadu, where Muslims make up 5.86% of the population, according to the 2011 census.
While there are already several minor Muslim parties in the state, they have split between the two Dravidian alliances in the last election.
“Owaisi plans to unite all the Muslim parties and participate in the elections. AIMIM may have an alliance with Makkal Needhi Maiam (Kamal’s party), Naam Tamilar and other smaller parties, ”said a source familiar with the discussions.
Tamil Nadu has the Indian Union Muslim League, Indian National League, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi, All India Muslim League, Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath, and other smaller parties in support of Muslims.
Districts such as Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, Trichy, Madurai, and Tirunelveli have substantial numbers of Muslims in their population.
Vakeel Ahmed, chairman of AIMIM’s Tamil Nadu unit, had told a news website last month that the party was conducting a state poll before the elections to identify seats.
Ahmed had said that he had spoken with Duraimurugan, the secretary general of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), about a possible alliance, but has received no response from him. It had ruled out an alliance with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) because it is in a coalition with the BJP.
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