New Delhi: In a pointed message aimed at the Congress party, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has asserted that the Congress’s recent loss in Haryana cannot be attributed to his party’s presence as he claimed that the grand old party would blame AIMIM for being the B team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the losing elections.
Addressing a public meeting in Vikarabad, Telangana, on Friday night, Owaisi suggested that the Congress needs to broaden its political strategy if it aims to defeat the BJP. “How did they (BJP) win (Haryana)? I was not there. Otherwise, they (Congress) would have said ‘B Team’… They lost there. Now, you tell me, they lost because of whom?”, Owaisi rhetorically asked, highlighting the Congress’s trend to blame his party for electoral losses.
He further stressed the need for unity within the opposition ranks, “I would like to tell the old party. Understand what I am saying. You have to take everyone along to defeat Modi. You will not be able to do anything alone.” This statement comes amid ongoing discussions about a unified opposition front to counter the BJP’s dominance.
Owaisi’s remarks have triggered a response from BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, who asserted that Owaisi’s political maneuvering benefits the Congress. “It is clear today that if Asaduddin Owaisi was anyone’s B team, it was of Congress party and INDI Alliance,” Bhandari stated, accusing Owaisi of strategically splitting the Muslim vote bank to benefit the Congress.
He further added that the entire INDI Bloc is attempting to create fear among the Muslim community, suggesting that the alliance’s strategy relies on fear-mongering rather than offering genuine solutions.
Despite facing anti-incumbency sentiment, the BJP secured a third consecutive victory in Haryana, winning 48 out of 90 assembly seats, exceeding the simple majority mark.
