Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Owaisi Sets October 2 Deadline for UP Opposition Alliance
Asaduddin Owaisi wants his party, the AIMIM, to join the opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh.
The alliance currently includes the Samajwadi Party and the Congress.
Owaisi gave them until October 2 to decide.
He said his party would work with other groups if it is not included.
He made the announcement at a rally in Kanpur.
The AIMIM also said it would contest the Kanpur Cantonment seat.
Akhilesh Yadav said the Samajwadi Party already has an alliance with Congress.
A Congress leader said that Muslims alone cannot defeat the BJP.
Asaduddin Owaisi gave the Samajwadi Party and Indian National Congress until October 2 to include the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in their Uttar Pradesh election alliance.
Owaisi warned that the AIMIM would announce an alliance with other non-Bharatiya Janata Party forces after the deadline.
He made the remarks at a rally in Kanpur and later urged parties preparing to oppose the BJP to include the AIMIM.
The AIMIM announced it would field a candidate from the Kanpur Cantonment constituency.
Akhilesh Yadav said the Samajwadi Party already has an alliance with Congress, while Congress leader Imran Masood said Muslims alone cannot defeat the BJP.
- Who
- Asaduddin Owaisi and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen; the Samajwadi Party and the Indian National Congress.
- What
- Owaisi issued an October 2 deadline for the Samajwadi Party and Congress to include the AIMIM in their opposition alliance.
- When
- The announcement was made on Monday, with October 2 set as the deadline.
- Where
- At a rally in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, followed by comments to reporters.
- Why
- Owaisi wants parties opposing the Bharatiya Janata Party to include the AIMIM in their alliance for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
AIMIM’s Inclusion Bid
Existing SP-Congress Alliance
Whether AIMIM should join
AIMIM’s Inclusion Bid
Asaduddin Owaisi said parties preparing an alliance against the BJP should include the AIMIM and gave them until October 2 to do so.
Existing SP-Congress Alliance
Akhilesh Yadav said the Samajwadi Party already has an alliance with Congress, without indicating that the AIMIM would be added.
Electoral strategy
AIMIM’s Inclusion Bid
Owaisi said the AIMIM would work with other non-BJP forces if it is not included in the opposition alliance.
Existing SP-Congress Alliance
Imran Masood said Muslims alone cannot defeat the BJP, suggesting that a broader electoral strategy is needed.
Leadership disagreement
AIMIM’s Inclusion Bid
O.P. Rajbhar said Owaisi wants a Muslim chief minister in Uttar Pradesh.
Existing SP-Congress Alliance
Rajbhar said Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi consider themselves leaders of Muslims and linked this to the SP-Congress position toward AIMIM.
- Deadline
- October 2
- Election
- 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election
- AIMIM candidate
- The party announced a candidate for Kanpur Cantonment.
- Owaisi's alternative
- He said the AIMIM would announce an alliance with other non-BJP forces if excluded.
- Samajwadi Party response
- Akhilesh Yadav said the party already has an alliance with Congress.
- Congress response
- Imran Masood said Muslims alone cannot defeat the BJP.