Owaisi, Chandrashekhar confirm alliance, to contest all UP seats
What's the story
Ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Chandrashekhar Azad's Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) have formed an alliance named 'Samajik Parivartan Morcha.' The two parties will contest all 403 seats in the state, with Azad as their chief ministerial candidate. Owaisi said the alliance aims to unite Dalit and Muslim communities and provide a strong political alternative to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from winning a third consecutive term.
Candidate announcement
Owaisi declares Azad as CM candidate
"On behalf of our party, I would like to state that we are committed to making this 'Samajik Parivartan Morcha' a success....We will all work together to ensure the success of this alliance—a success that will ultimately be the success of the people of Uttar Pradesh. Once Chandrashekhar Azad becomes the Chief Minister, we will be able to implement the changes we envision," Owaisi said at a joint press conference in Lucknow.
Key issues
A front for social change
Azad clarified not to treat the alliance as a "third front," but a front for social change.
"As more people from the marginalized, deprived, oppressed, exploited, and downtrodden sections join, this front will become an even more formidable force for those who are oppressed, helpless, and exploited...."
He said chief ministers, and even prime ministers, promised to eradicate poverty and to put an end to the oppression and caste-based violence, yet the situation remained the same.
Political strategy
AIMIM, Azad to expand political reach
The formation of this alliance comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 Assembly elections.
The BJP is looking for a third consecutive term, while the Samajwadi Party-Congress combine is trying to challenge its dominance.
For Owaisi, this tie-up will help expand AIMIM's political reach beyond its minority support base.
For Azad, it gives him a larger platform to strengthen his party's outreach among Dalit voters, especially youth.
Failed negotiations
Opposition INDIA bloc talks fail for Owaisi
The alliance's formation comes after Owaisi's attempts to join the opposition INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh fell through. His proposal for seat-sharing with SP and Congress was not well received.
With no consensus reached, AIMIM looked for an alternative arrangement with Azad's party.
However, the challenge for this new alliance will be to convert its appeal among Dalit and Muslim voters into electoral success in a state dominated by BJP and SP.
Electoral landscape
BSP likely to go solo in UP elections
The proposed alliance is significant because UP has a Dalit population of around 21% and Muslims make up nearly 19%. Together, these communities account for about 40% of the state's population.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has indicated that her party will contest independently in the 2027 elections.
The BJP won 255 seats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, while SP secured 111 seats. AIMIM and Azad Samaj Party had contested but failed to win any seats.