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UP Elections: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla mocked Asaduddin Owaisi’s alliance offer to Akhilesh Yadav, saying AIMIM had sent a “friendship request” to the Samajwadi Party.
Reacting to Owaisi’s call for an alliance with the Samajwadi Party, BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that the AIMIM and SP were united by “vote-bank politics”. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday mocked AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s proposal for an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, saying the AIMIM chief had sent a “friendship request” to Akhilesh Yadav.
“Owaisi ne friendship request bhej di hai Samajwadi Party ko,” Poonawalla said in an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, claiming that the AIMIM and the SP were “two sides of the same coin” driven by vote-bank politics.
He further alleged that both parties opposed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), reforms relating to Muslim personal law and women’s rights, and accused them of placing “vote-bank politics” above the Constitution. Poonawalla also claimed that what had earlier been a competition for the same support base had now turned into a collaboration ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls.
The BJP leader’s remarks came after Owaisi publicly offered to form an alliance with the Samajwadi Party to prevent the BJP from returning to power in Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing a public rally, the AIMIM chief said his party did not want the BJP to form the government in Uttar Pradesh again and urged opposition parties to begin talks before the elections.
“The Majlis does not want the BJP to form the government again in Uttar Pradesh. I am ready to join hands. I am ready to form an alliance. Today is the time to talk. Don’t cry later after the elections are over. We don’t want the BJP to come to power again,” Owaisi said.
He also sought to counter allegations that AIMIM’s presence hurts opposition prospects, saying he was willing to contest the elections alongside the Samajwadi Party if it helped defeat the BJP.
Will The Owaisi Factor Work?
Despite Owaisi’s repeated outreach to opposition parties, questions remain over whether his electoral influence extends beyond attracting crowds to translating that support into votes.
CNN-News18’s Payal Mehta noted that Owaisi has been campaigning extensively across Uttar Pradesh and has been drawing sizeable audiences at his rallies. However, whether those crowds will convert into votes for the AIMIM remains uncertain.
She pointed out that Owaisi has traditionally been viewed by many opposition parties as a “vote-cutter”—a perception that has often complicated efforts to build broader anti-BJP alliances. At the same time, the AIMIM chief has sought to project himself as a political alternative for sections of the minority community, arguing that the BJP government has failed to address their concerns.
Owaisi Bets On Gen Z
As part of his preparations for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Owaisi has also announced that the AIMIM plans to field younger candidates, including members of Generation Z wherever possible.
According to CNN-News18’s Payal Mehta, the move reflects Owaisi’s attempt to gain an early advantage in the electoral battle while signalling to opposition parties that they should unite if they hope to challenge the BJP effectively. However, the Samajwadi Party has so far not publicly responded to his proposal for an alliance.
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly election is expected to be one of the BJP’s biggest political tests ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seeking a third consecutive term in office. Opposition parties are expected to weigh alliance options closely as campaigning gathers pace.
About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c…Read More
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