Owaisi puts an end to speculation about an alliance with the BJP, says ‘Our paths are completely different’

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday ruled out any possibility of an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after his party’s impressive performance in the Maharashtra municipal elections, saying that the two sides are like two shores of the sea that can never meet. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Owaisi referred to the recent incident in Akot where AIMIM corporators attempted to form an alliance with the BJP. He explained that five AIMIM corporators had won the elections in Akot, and the party had already warned them. Owaisi said that initially, the corporators claimed they were unaware that the group they joined was associated with the BJP. Owaisi stated that the party then immediately instructed them to write a letter to the municipal commissioner withdrawing their support. He further added that it later came to light that the son of a BJP leader was inducted into the party through co-option, following which Imtiaz Jaleel suspended the corporators from the party. Owaisi clarified that AIMIM will take strict action against any member who allies with rival political parties. He said that it was found that when the son of a BJP leader was inducted into the party through co-option, Imtiaz Jaleel suspended them from the party. Whether it is the BJP, Eknath Shinde, or Ajit Pawar, if they go with them, the party will take action against them. Highlighting AIMIM’s performance in the Maharashtra municipal elections, Owaisi said that the party had won 125 seats in the recent elections and around 85 seats in the municipal elections held about a month ago. He further added that AIMIM now has more than 200 corporators in municipal councils and corporations across the state. Owaisi said, “This time we have won 125 seats.” In the municipal elections held about a month ago, approximately 85 of our candidates emerged victorious. Including both municipal councils and corporations, we now have over 200 elected councilors. If a party fails to win elections, it clearly indicates that there are some shortcomings within that party. We have been working consistently at the grassroots level for years. In the recently concluded Maharashtra municipal elections, AIMIM registered significant gains, winning more seats than in previous elections and securing eight seats in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.