Interview/ Akhtarul Iman, president, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Bihar
Q. What do you think of the political climate in Bihar post Prashant Kishor’s entry?
A. His political pursuits have charted a new path. He has managed to influence a large section of the youth and has effectively highlighted the failures of the government.
Q. Despite winning five seats in Seemanchal in 2020, the AIMIM lost some ground later. What gives you the confidence of retaining those seats?
A. We have not lost anything. Seemanchal remained neglected, both by Delhi and Patna, because of the so-called secular parties. Due to their silence and carelessness, this region faced constant discrimination. There was no development, no growth in educational institutions, no industrial setups and no flood control. A few opportunistic individuals may have left, but the people are still with us.
Q. Is there a possibility of a tactical alliance with any regional or national party?
A. We attempted to initiate an alliance with the Mahagathbandhan, but their unofficial response has not been encouraging. But we are not disheartened. We are prepared to contest alone or even form a third front.
Q. How many seats will you contest this time?
A. We will contest more seats than we did last time. Previously, we had contested 18 seats. This time, preparation is underway for 100 seats, although we won’t contest all of them. The final decision will be taken by [party chief] Asaduddin Owaisi.
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Q. What does the AIMIM think about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise?
A. Conducting SIR may be within their rights. But at a time when floods are imminent and assembly elections are near, the timing is not appropriate. Many voters will struggle to find documents in time―they need sufficient time for documentation. Migrant labourers cannot return within 25 days. The civil registration system is also in a poor state.