Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], November 4 (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday took a sharp swipe at both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP), asserting that Muslims will no longer be treated as mere vote banks and will emerge as leaders and lawmakers in Uttar Pradesh.
Invoking the electoral success of Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed in the United States to argue for stronger minority representation, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owais stated that Muslims have traditionally been stereotyped in Indian political rhetoric.
"Abdul won in Michigan. Did this not become an issue when I said something on it? People from the BJP used to mock and say, 'Abdul puncture banata hai' (Abdul repairs punctures). The SP people used to say, 'Abdul dari bicchayega' (Abdul will spread the carpets), Owaisi told ANI.
Emphasising the shift in democratic aspirations, the AIMIM president added: "We are saying that in a democracy, Abdul has now become a Senator. Therefore, 'Abdul' will not bow his head before anyone anymore. Instead, he will become an MLA, an elected leader in Uttar Pradesh. That is precisely what I was trying to convey."
The high-stakes victory in Michigan unfolded as US networks projected a sweeping nationwide wave, with Democrats capturing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. The dramatic shift redrew the political map, seeing Texas and Kansas elect their first Democratic senators in decades, alongside crucial party flips in Ohio, Iowa, North and South Carolina, and Maine.
Reacting to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's recent remark—wherein he stated, "I become Chief Minister when I don't contest elections; I will do whatever is auspicious..."—Owaisi maintained that while it is an internal matter for the SP, his party is committed to fielding candidates.
"That is a decision of his party. We cannot comment on it. However, we will definitely contest. I am confident that candidates from my party will get elected as MLAs. A distinct political leadership representing the minority community and weaker sections of society will certainly be established," he asserted.
The Hyderabad MP also strongly opposed reports suggesting that the Centre informed the Delhi High Court that the historic Kadimi Masjid near Krishi Bhawan must be removed to make way for the Central Vista project.
Underlining the mosque's historical significance, Owaisi said, "The construction of Lutyens' Delhi began back in 1908. While land acquisition was carried out across several villages, these mosques were intentionally spared and preserved, and Lutyens' Delhi was built around them. This mosque is part of the historical and cultural heritage of this country."
Challenging the Centre's jurisdiction over the structure, the AIMIM chief added: "The government is not the owner of this mosque; it is a registered Waqf property. Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju should apprise them of the facts. The mosque was in existence long before the Constitution was drafted, and long before Delhi became the nation's capital. It predates it all. Erasing it is certainly not secularism." (ANI)
"Abdul won't bow down anymore": Asaduddin Owaisi cites US Michigan win, pushes for Muslim political leadership in UP
