Third front in UP polls? Owaisi, Azad likely to announce alliance on Nov 12

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: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) president Chandrashekhar Azad are likely to announce an alliance for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections at a joint press conference in Lucknow on Thursday, November 12.The proposed tie-up could mark an attempt by the two parties to build a political front outside the BJP-led NDA and the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance. Both parties are looking to consolidate support among Dalit and minority voters, who together account for nearly 41 per cent of Uttar Pradesh's electorate, according to the figures cited by party leaders.AIMIM spokesperson Shadab Chauhan confirmed that the two parties would join hands, but said details of the agreement would be made public at the press conference, news agency PTI reported.The event is expected to be held at a hotel in Gomtinagar and will be addressed by Owaisi and leaders of the Bhim Army.Both leaders have reached Lucknow ahead of the announcement. Asked about the proposed alliance, Azad said its aim was to strengthen the position of young people, farmers and marginalised sections. He said further details would be shared on Thursday.

The parties have not yet disclosed how many of the state's 403 assembly seats they intend to contest.

It is also unclear whether other smaller parties will join the proposed front.The development follows Owaisi's unsuccessful attempt to secure a place in the INDIA bloc's seat-sharing arrangement in Uttar Pradesh. The AIMIM chief had set an October 2 deadline for the Samajwadi Party and Congress to respond to his offer, but neither party agreed to include him in the alliance.While AIMIM has a limited electoral footprint in Uttar Pradesh, Owaisi has influence among sections of the minority community. Azad, the Nagina MP, has been seeking to expand his support among young Dalit voters. Their proposed partnership could therefore add another political equation to the contest, as the BJP looks to retain power for a third consecutive term and the opposition seeks to challenge it.