Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen or AIMIM has joined the battle for Maharashtra, hoping to expand its niche in the western state. With eye on Muslim and Dalit votes, the party is contesting on 16 seats. Though it won only two seats in 2014 and 2019, its effect had extended to cutting into the non-BJP votes from the Congress, triggering Maha Vikas Aghadi's allegation that it is the "B Team" of the BJP.
AIMIM won Malegaon Central and Dhule in 2019 after contesting on 44 seats, but spoiled the chances of the Congress and Sharad Pawar's undivided NCP on a dozen seats.
This time, the party has fielded four Dalit and 12 Muslim candidates in Aurangabad Central, Aurangabad East, Mumbra-Kalwa (Thane), Malegaon Central, Dhule, Solapur, Nanded South, Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, Bhiwandi West, Karanja, Nagpur North, Byculla, Versova (Mumbai), Murtizapur (Akola), Kurla and Miraj (Sangli).
Most of these seats are around Mumbai. On almost all seats, there are strong candidates of the Congress, NCP (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT).
The campaign is being spearheaded by party chief Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, with the slogan "Jai Bhim, Jai MIM".
Mr Owaisi's hurdles have been multiplied by the Ulema Board, which has supported the MVA with 17 conditions.
The main demands of the board include a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mentor of the BJP, and opposition to the Waqf Bill.
Mr Owaisi feels this move of the board may lead to a division in his Muslim votebank. But such a split will hit the MVA worse.
Featured Video Of The Day
Congress Posts Worst Show In Maharashtra, Distant Junior Partner In Jharkhand Video: Fire Erupts During Aarti To Mark Election Victory In Maharashtra "Ladki Behen Yojana": The Scheme That Powered BJP-Mahayuti To Big Maharashtra Win "Moving Towards One Party, One Nation": Uddhav Thackeray On BJP Victory After Mega Maharashtra Victory, NDA's Oath Ceremony Likely Tomorrow With Thumping Win, Maharashtra Decides Real NCP, Sena 2 More Babies Die, Deaths In UP Hospital Fire Rises To 17 Sea Nomads, Once Masters In Water, Now Forced To Abandon Oceanic Life 163 Kg Employee Sues Company For Over Rs 38 Crore, Says Desk Too Small Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.