‘Every community has a leader, but Muslims don’t’: AIMIM chief Owaisi flags political vacuum ahead of Bihar polls

AIMIM chief calls out lack of Muslim representation, stakes claim for Seemanchal, and critiques government’s Waqf law in high-voltage pre-election address

Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP, made a politically charged statement ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, asserting that while communities like Yadavs, Paswans, and Thakurs have established leaders, Muslims, the state’s 19 percent population, remain without a dedicated political voice.

Speaking to minority communities in Bihar, Owaisi said, “Yadav, Paswan, Thakur, every community has its own leader, but the 19 per cent Muslims in Bihar have no leader.” Data from the 2022 Bihar caste survey places Muslims at 17.7 percent of the state’s population of around 13 crore.

VIDEO | Darbhanga: Addressing a public meeting, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "Yadavs, Paswans, Thakurs - every community has its leader, but the 19 per cent Muslim population in Bihar does not."#BiharElections

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AIMIM’s Bihar strategy and past footprint

Owaisi’s AIMIM had created waves in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, winning five seats in the Seemanchal region, though four of those MLAs later joined the RJD. Last month, Owaisi visited Bihar to campaign, and while he expressed willingness to join the Opposition alliance led by RJD and Congress, the Mahagathbandhan reportedly did not respond favourably.

Owaisi said that there's a need for stronger Muslim representation at the national level, questioning why there aren’t at least 50 Muslim MPs in India. He rhetorically asked, “If there were more than 50 Muslim MPs, could PM Modi have brought the Waqf Amendment Act?”

VIDEO | Darbhanga: Addressing a public meeting, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "There should have been 50-55 Muslim MPs based on our population. If there were more than 50 Muslim MPs, could PM Modi have brought the Waqf (Amendment) Act?"#BiharElections #Owaisi… pic.twitter.com/I3T00fOKmZ

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Offer for alliance with mahagathbandhan

Owaisi recounted efforts to negotiate a tie-up with the Opposition: “In our culture, when the father is alive, we approach him before talking to the son,” he said, referring to letters sent first to Lalu Prasad Yadav and later to Tejashwi Yadav through AIMIM’s state president, Akhtarul Iman.

AIMIM’s conditions were modest: six seats, considering their previous five wins, and the establishment of a Seemanchal Development Council. “They were not interested,” Owaisi said, adding that the party sought no ministerial positions in return.

Scathing critique of Waqf Amendment Act

Owaisi launched a direct attack on the government over the Waqf Amendment Act, calling it a 'black law' aimed at taking over mosques, dargahs, khanqahs, and graveyards. Speaking passionately, he said, “Those who thought that if four are demolished, these people will become weak, I want to tell them that the four will be answered with 24.”

He reiterated his stand in Parliament, asserting that AIMIM will resist any move to undermine religious institutions.

#WATCH | Bahadurganj, Bihar | On Waqf Amendment Act, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "Those who thought that if four are demolished, these people will become weak. I want to tell them that the four will be answered with 24. We are saying this to PM Modi that by making the… pic.twitter.com/qAvw67DAr4

— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

Defending cultural and religious expression

Addressing recent controversies over religious expression, Owaisi defended public displays of devotion to Prophet Muhammad. “If someone uses a poster saying ‘I love Muhammad,’ what is illegal about it? It does not incite violence,” he argued, drawing parallels with Hindu slogans like ‘I love Mahadev.’

He also criticised restrictions on Muslim women wearing hijabs and burqas, stating, “The actions the government is taking now are attacking our hearts. Remember, we have tolerated attacks on every part of our bodies. But when the heart is attacked, who will survive?”

Muslims form a significant part of the RJD’s core support base, often referred to as the MY (Muslim-Yadav) combination, which has been key to the party’s electoral success. Owaisi’s statements and AIMIM’s assertive strategy signal a potential shift in the dynamics of Bihar politics, particularly in Seemanchal, where minority voters could influence outcomes.