Launching a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Uttar Pradesh president Shaukat Ali accused the party of repeatedly exploiting the Muslim community for political gains.
He said the SP had treated Muslims like “disposable glasses,” using them during elections and discarding them afterward. Speaking to the media on Saturday, Shaukat Ali said the Muslim community would now fight its own political battles.
He announced that AIMIM is preparing to contest elections in nearly 200 assembly constituencies across Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant expansion of the party’s political ambitions in the state.
Ali also indicated that AIMIM is open to forming an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the upcoming assembly elections.
Highlighting the social and political alignment between Dalits and Muslims, he said there is a “natural alliance” between the two communities.
According to him, efforts are underway to build a strong political force based on this shared social foundation.
He pointed out that 134 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh have a substantial Muslim population, with Muslim voters making up between 20 and 40 percent of the electorate.
Ali said the party’s electoral strategy is being designed with these constituencies in focus.
Detailing AIMIM’s preparations, Ali said the party is actively gearing up to contest in key constituencies such as Loni, Muradnagar, Dhaulana, Meerut City, Meerut South, Dhaurahara, Kithore, Amroha, Dhanaura, Sambhal, Asmoli, Kath, and Kudarki.
He added that organisational work has also been intensified in areas including Siddharthnagar, Gonda, Basti, Bahraich, Matera-Nanpara, and Kaisarganj.
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Meanwhile, political sources revealed that discussions are underway to form a possible third front in Uttar Pradesh politics.
This proposed front aims to bring together several leaders and smaller parties, including Chandrashekhar Azad, AIMIM, Babu Singh Kushwaha, and Swami Prasad Maurya.
If these efforts succeed, sources say the new political platform could emerge as a strong alternative in the state, representing the interests of Dalits, Muslims, and other marginalised communities.