Patna, News Agency
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has been denied entry into the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, with alliance leaders stating that there is "no place for caste-based parties" in their secular coalition.
The decision comes as a major setback to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Following the snub, Owaisi has announced that his party will contest the polls independently.
In an effort to prevent the division of secular votes, AIMIM had recently submitted a formal request to join the Grand Alliance. However, the alliance leaders turned down the proposal, labelling AIMIM as a caste- and community-based party. This is not the first time the Grand Alliance has rejected AIMIM — similar decisions were made during previous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
With the door closed on joining the Mahagathbandhan, AIMIM is now exploring the possibility of forming a third front. However, leaders of the Grand Alliance have mocked this move, suggesting that any such front could end up serving as the "B-Team" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), indirectly helping the ruling party by splitting votes. They claim that this strategy could backfire on both the BJP and the third front itself.
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