New Political Equation in UP: Owaisi’s AIMIM, Chandra Shekhar Azad’s Party Announce Alliance

November 12, 2026

Lucknow:A new political alliance is taking shape in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. Following long-standing speculation, an alliance between All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Azad Samaj Party (ASP) chief Chandrashekhar Azad was confirmed on Wednesday.

A formal announcement regarding this alliance is expected to be made during a joint press conference in Lucknow on Thursday, which will be attended by Asaduddin Owaisi and Chandrashekhar Azad, the Member of Parliament from Nagina. Details concerning seat-sharing arrangements and the number of assembly constituencies each party will contest are also expected to be disclosed.

The alliance is likely to focus primarily on assembly constituencies in Western Uttar Pradesh and the Rohilkhand region that have significant Muslim and Dalit populations.

Eyeing the Muslim-Dalit Vote Bank: A New Challenge for the Samajwadi Party?

Discussions have intensified regarding the potential impact of this alliance on Uttar Pradesh politics. Political analysts suggest it will be interesting to observe how much this coalition—comprising two relatively smaller parties—affects the Samajwadi Party’s minority vote bank. Any fragmentation of votes could potentially benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Both parties performed poorly in the 2022 assembly elections. The AIMIM contested 95 seats, securing approximately 0.49% of the vote, but failed to win a single seat. Meanwhile, the Azad Samaj Party fielded candidates in over 100 constituencies and garnered roughly 0.13% of the vote.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Dalit community accounts for approximately 21% of the population, while the Muslim community makes up about 19%. Together, these two groups represent nearly 40% of the state’s total population. Confirming the alliance, AIMIM spokesperson Shadab Chauhan stated, “A joint press conference by Asaduddin Owaisi and Chandrashekhar Azad will be held on Thursday (November 12) at a prominent hotel in Lucknow. Our alliance for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections will be announced there.”

He noted that the alliance would primarily focus on Dalits and Muslims. According to Chauhan, “Our primary focus will be on Dalits and Muslims, as these communities face the most hardship, regardless of which government is in power. We will ensure they receive due respect, rights, and political representation. The number of seats the alliance will contest will be formally announced during the joint press conference.”

AIMIM spokesperson attacks Akhilesh Yadav; SP chief responds

Shadab Chauhan also launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. Targeting Yadav’s ‘PDA’ (Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak — Backward, Dalit, and Minority) slogan, Chauhan remarked, “Akhilesh Yadav has his own version of ‘PDA,’ which stands for ‘Parivar of Dhanwan and Akhilesh’ (a family of the wealthy and Akhilesh). He has no real concern for Dalits or Muslims. If that were not the case, he would not have sent Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani to the Rajya Sabha.”

Chauhan also questioned Akhilesh Yadav’s proposed visit to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on December 12. He asked whether Yadav had sought permission from senior SP leader Azam Khan—who was associated with the Babri Masjid Action Committee—for this visit. He further questioned whether Yadav intended to invalidate the stances of his party’s veteran leaders, or if he was attempting to legitimize the demolition of the Babri Masjid by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the BJP. Chauhan described the demolition of the mosque as a criminal act.

The AIMIM spokesperson also hinted that other smaller political parties might join the alliance as the elections draw closer. Meanwhile, reacting to the prospect of an alliance, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated, “This time, the people of Uttar Pradesh have made up their minds in favor of the Samajwadi Party.”

On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh BJP chief spokesperson Dinesh Pratap Singh remarked that all political parties are free to contest elections from wherever they choose. However, he accused Owaisi of having no ideology other than dividing people and spreading hatred.

Both leaders focused on strengthening their hold among Muslim and Dalit voters

For some time now, Asaduddin Owaisi has been working to expand his political reach in Muslim-majority areas. Previously, he had expressed a desire to join major opposition alliances, but his efforts did not succeed.

Meanwhile, Chandrashekhar Azad—the current MP from Nagina—is focused on expanding his party, the Azad Samaj Party (ASP). He is placing special emphasis on the Dalit community and young voters. Amid the declining influence of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), he is attempting to position his party as a strong alternative within Dalit politics. To this end, he has held several rallies and is also preparing for a major show of strength in Lucknow.

Earlier, for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the AIMIM and the Azad Samaj Party—in collaboration with Swami Prasad Maurya’s ‘Apni Janta Party’—had formed a ‘third front’ called the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).

Initially, this alliance planned to contest approximately 64 seats, with the AIMIM intending to field candidates in about 35 constituencies, the ASP in 25, and the Apni Janta Party in four. Ultimately, however, the alliance contested fewer seats than originally planned.

In Bihar, the AIMIM fielded candidates in 28 constituencies and secured victories in five—namely Amour, Baisi, Joki…