Owaisi, Azaad announce alliance for UP polls; send message to Akhilesh

Owaisi and Chandrashekhar Azad are set to join hands ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, seeking to consolidate Dalit and minority votes

NEW DELHI: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad on Thursday announced an alliance for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.The two leaders made the announcement at a joint press conference in Lucknow, bringing together their parties ahead of the state polls.The development comes after Owaisi's attempt to join the INDIA bloc's seat-sharing arrangement in Uttar Pradesh failed to materialise. The AIMIM chief had set an October 2 deadline for the Samajwadi Party and Congress to respond to his proposal, but neither party agreed to include him in the alliance.While AIMIM has a limited electoral presence in Uttar Pradesh, Owaisi has influence among sections of the minority community. Azad, meanwhile, has been seeking to expand his support base among young Dalit voters.The alliance adds another political combination to the contest, with the

BJP

seeking a third consecutive term in Uttar Pradesh and opposition parties preparing to challenge it.