AIMIM National Spokesperson Asim Waqar Joins Congress Ahead of 2027 UP Polls
Asim Waqar, the national spokesperson and prominent television face of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), joined the Congress on Wednesday. His departure marks a setback for Asaduddin Owaisi's party as it prepares for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, ending an association with AIMIM that began in 2017.
During his joining ceremony, Waqar heavily criticized AIMIM, accusing it of functioning as the "B-team" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Waqar stated that he had originally joined AIMIM believing it was a secular party fighting against the BJP, but gradually realized that the party was fighting more against its political opponents than the ruling party.
Waqar expressed his support for Rahul Gandhi, stating that the Congress is fighting to save democracy. He remarked that anyone working against the Congress is effectively helping the BJP, adding that only those who stand with Rahul Gandhi can fight the BJP.
Taking a swipe at AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Waqar claimed that alliances involving AIMIM have consistently harmed its political partners. He cited H.D. Kumaraswamy in Karnataka, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) in Telangana, and Prakash Ambedkar in Maharashtra as examples of partners who suffered losses.
Political Transition and Discontent
A resident of Lucknow, Waqar became a well-known figure in Uttar Pradesh politics through his frequent television appearances as AIMIM's national spokesperson. His induction into the Congress was facilitated by Rajya Sabha MP and Congress minority department chief Imran Pratapgarhi. Neither Owaisi nor any senior AIMIM functionary has commented on Waqar's departure.
Before his tenure with AIMIM, Waqar spent nearly two decades with the Samajwadi Party. Despite his long history with the regional party, he chose to join the Congress rather than return to the Samajwadi Party. Sources indicated that Waqar had been dissatisfied for several months regarding decisions made by AIMIM's Uttar Pradesh unit.
AIMIM's Electoral Strategy in Uttar Pradesh
Waqar's exit comes at a crucial juncture for AIMIM in Uttar Pradesh. Owaisi has been actively preparing his party for the upcoming Assembly elections, asserting that AIMIM will contest the polls with its full strength, though the exact number of seats has not yet been finalized.
Owaisi has consistently rejected the "vote-cutting" label, projecting AIMIM as an independent political alternative. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, AIMIM contested 95 of the state's 403 seats, primarily in western Uttar Pradesh, but failed to win any seats and secured only 0.4 percent of the total vote. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party did not field candidates under its own symbol, instead supporting Pallavi Patel's Apna Dal (Kamerawadi).
Over the past six months, Owaisi has increased his political activities in the state. Sources suggest AIMIM is working toward an alliance with Chandrashekhar Azad's Azad Samaj Party (ASP), with leadership from both sides expected to meet soon to finalize a deal. Following Waqar's departure, AIMIM is expected to promote other young Muslim faces in the state.
