Asaduddin Owaisi takes 'chocolate' jibe at INDIA bloc over Bihar alliance: 'No one should cry mummy, mummy after election'

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said it was for the Opposition to think if they want to ally with the party or not. (File: PTI)

The AIMIM is open to an alliance with INDIA bloc partners Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress and others, but said Opposition parties should not "cry after the election" if the party chooses to contest polls on its own provided they do not agree on an alliance.

"No one should cry after the election, 'Mummy, mummy, they have stolen your chocolate'. If they are ready (for an alliance), I am ready. I don't want the BJP-NDA to return. But if they don't agree, we would have to contest the election, right?" he told NDTV.

Owaisi's swipe appears to be aimed at countering the Opposition on its oft-repeated claim that the AIMIM serves as the BJP's B-team and fielding candidates only to cut into Opposition votes to help the BJP win.

The AIMIM has already declared candidates for two seats, Bahadurganj and Dhaka, a month ago, and plans to put up candidates in other seats as well, Owaisi said. "They (Opposition parties) have to think (if they want the alliance or not). We will speed up our preparations. Our candidates will win, stay with the party and serve the people."

Owaisi had earlier said that he had reached out to the Opposition for an alliance ahead of the 2020 polls as well. However, no alliance could materialize.

The party sprang a surprise by winning five of the 20 seats it contested in the 2020 polls. While four of its MLAs later defected to the RJD, the party's performance showed that it had gained significant influence in Bihar's politics and has the potential to cause a disruption this time around as well.

Owaisi enjoys significant clout among Muslim voters who also form a crucial support base for the RJD in the state. Owaisi has also gained a larger following for his upfront remarks slamming Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and over the Pahalgam terror attack.

The elections in Bihar are expected to be held in October-November this year. While the JDU-BJP led NDA is hoping to retain power in the state, the Mahagathbandhan hopes to better its performance after emerging as the single largest party in the last election but falling short of the majority mark, primarily due to the Congress' poor strike rate.