Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Why are Congress and RJD against including Asaduddin Owaisi in the Grand Alliance?

As the BJP and Janata Dal (United) vie for political dominance in Bihar ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, using freebies as a key strategy, the Congress, Left parties, and RJD are banking on the Muslim-Yadav vote bank. Meanwhile, Asaduddin Owaisi seeks to join the alliance and sway Muslim voters in the state. Yet, the Mahagathbandhan continues to reject his overtures. Here’s why the political tension persists.

New Delhi: As the date of Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 is approaching, the political stir in the state is intensifying. Meanwhile, a situation of dispute has arisen in the grand alliance regarding Asaduddin Owaisi's party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). AIMIM had expressed its desire to join the alliance, but Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress have clearly rejected it.

RJD and Congress refuse to include AIMIM in Mahagathbandhan (Grand Allaince)

AIMIM's Bihar State President Akhtarul Iman had written a letter to Lalu Prasad Yadav offering to join the alliance, so that division of secular votes can be prevented. However, RJD and Congress rejected the proposal, saying AIMIM's image of religious polarisation could weaken the alliance's secular appeal. The Mahagathbandhan comprises RJD, Congress and Left parties, which rely on the traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) vote bank in the state.

AIMIM has a good hold in the Seemanchal region, where the party won 5 seats in the 2020 assembly elections. But this led to the division of the Mahagathbandhan votes, indirectly benefiting the NDA. RJD believes that BJP may project it as 'Muslim appeasement' by allying with Owaisi's party, which will lead to polarisation of Hindu votes.

Apart from this, the defection of four AIMIM MLAs to RJD in 2020 was considered a betrayal by AIMIM, which further weakened the trust between the two parties. RJD leaders believe that AIMIM can benefit in Seemanchal, but there is a risk of loss in areas like Mithilanchal, Champaran and Magadh.

Owaisi hints at a third front

RJD MP Manoj Jha admitted to giving 'ideological support' to AIMIM, but flatly refused to give it a place in the alliance. At the same time, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh ruled out any possible partnership, calling AIMIM outright 'communal'.

On the other hand, Asaduddin Owaisi has described this refusal as 'one-sided love' and has hinted that he can form a 'third front'. If this happens, it can create a new political equation in Bihar, which can prove to be detrimental for the Grand Alliance.

However BJP and Janta Dal(United) are also vying for political elbow-room in Bihar ahead of the 2025 assembly elections through its freebies. Stay tuned to Dynamite News for further updates.