Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 4: Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM intends to field candidates in approximately 25 constituencies for the Assembly elections in Karnataka and is considering an electoral alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular), according to Osman Ghani, the president of the AIMIM state unit. Owaisi, the party's chief, has said that they have announced three candidates so far and are open to the possibility of forming an alliance, but are uncertain if one will be made. In the 2018 Assembly elections, AIMIM supported the JD(S) and did not field any candidates.

When questioned about potential alliances, Owaisi stated that the Congress has no interest in forming an alliance due to what he claims are groundless accusations made against him. Owaisi criticized the Basavaraj Bommai government's recent decision to eliminate the four percent reservation for Muslims in the OBC category, calling it "entirely illegal" and expressing disbelief that no significant protests or statements had been made by secular leaders and parties. He also questioned why the issue of division of the Muslim vote is only raised for AIMIM and not for leaders of other communities such as Lingayats, Vokkaligas, and Kurubas.

Owaisi also pointed out that AIMIM did not field any candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, where the Congress only managed to win one seat. He questioned if the lack of an AIMIM candidate contributed to the division of the Muslim vote or if it was the consolidation of the "majority" vote for the BJP, which formed the government in Karnataka in 2019 with the help of Congress defectors.