AIMIM spokesperson’s move to Congress deals blow to Owaisi’s UP ambitions ahead of 2027 polls

Uttar Pradesh: Election season is gathering momentum in Uttar Pradesh, and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is under pressure following reports that one of its most prominent leaders in the state is poised to join the Congress.

AIMIM national spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar is expected to formally switch to the Grand Old Party on Wednesday, 2 September, after growing dissatisfaction with internal party decisions. Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Imran Pratapgarhi is said to have played a pivotal role in facilitating the move, according to an NDTV report.

Waqar has been with the AIMIM for close to a decade, having previously spent two decades with the Samajwadi Party (SP). Both the SP and the Congress belong to the INDIA bloc alliance, making his shift politically significant. Until now, the leader has neither confirmed nor denied the speculation surrounding his exit.

Political analysts suggest the development could seriously dent Asaduddin Owaisi’s plans to consolidate the AIMIM’s presence in Uttar Pradesh. Waqar’s departure, if confirmed, would represent a major organisational setback for the party just as it prepares for next year’s 403-seat Assembly elections.

Owaisi had last month expressed confidence about the AIMIM’s prospects in the state. “Our party has not yet decided how many seats we will contest. We will definitely contest the elections, and if we perform better than before, it will soon become clear which seats we will contest, where, and what the number will be,” he told IANS. He added that the party’s organisational structure had strengthened considerably and argued that repeated allegations against the AIMIM had created a public perception that the NDA was destined to return to power.