Congress MP Imran Masood: AIMIM's 5-7 MLAs end up backing BJP
Synopsis
Congress MP Imran Masood has turned Owaisi's UP alliance plea into an attack — arguing AIMIM's MLAs reliably end up backing BJP governments, with Bihar as Exhibit A. Three Congress voices, including a reference to 29 years of contradictions, have together made the case that AIMIM's outreach is either tactical or, as they allege, part of an undeclared understanding with the BJP.
Key Takeaways
Congress MP Imran Masood said AIMIM , even after winning 5–7 seats , ultimately supports BJP governments, citing Bihar as precedent.
Masood warned that vote-splitting along communal lines makes the BJP 'victorious' in Uttar Pradesh .
Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput alleged a covert AIMIM–BJP understanding 'behind the scenes'.
Congress leader Asim Waqr noted that AIMIM has called Congress an 'enemy of Muslims' for 29 years , questioning the logic of now seeking an alliance.
The Congress categorically rejected any alliance talks, saying no discussion had taken place from its side.
Congress MP Imran Masood on 21 September launched a sharp counter to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who had on Monday appealed to political peers for a pre-poll alliance ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Masood argued that even when AIMIM manages to win 5–7 seats, its lawmakers ultimately prop up a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
Masood's Core Charge
The Congress MP did not mince words, pointing to Bihar as a precedent. 'What happened in Bihar? The BJP formed the government, didn't it?' he asked. He contended that elections in a diverse state like Uttar Pradesh cannot be won on Muslim votes alone, and that the BJP has effectively 'broken the myth' that it cannot win without Muslim support.
'If we continue to play on those lines, we will be making the BJP victorious. Muslims are the most oppressed community in Uttar Pradesh; they face the most atrocities and violence,' Masood said, warning that vote-splitting along communal lines only benefits the ruling party.
Congress Spokespersons Pile On
Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput went further, flatly alleging a covert understanding between AIMIM and the BJP. 'We appeal to the media not to spread confusion. There is no talk of an alliance from our side. Owaisi Sahib only talks about Muslims, while the BJP only talks about Hindus. Their alliance is with each other behind the scenes,' Rajput said.
He also dismissed any suggestion that Congress had been in discussions with AIMIM. 'No alliance can be formed by putting a gun to someone's ear,' he added, signalling that the party sees Owaisi's outreach as tactical rather than sincere.
Historical Grievances Resurface
Congress leader Asim Waqr invoked a longer arc of history, recalling that when a journalist had raised the 'BJP agent' allegation with Owaisi, the AIMIM chief had replied: 'Yes, after 10 years, they have realised that I am a BJP agent.'
Waqr traced the AIMIM family's political trajectory back to 1985, when Owaisi's father Salahuddin Owaisi became a Member of Parliament and subsequently aligned with Congress. He cited the Moradabad riots, the Bhagalpur riots, and the Babri Masjid controversy as milestones that AIMIM has long used to paint Congress as hostile to Muslims — noting the contradiction in now seeking an alliance with the same party.
'They continued to say this for 29 years, and now he is urging with folded hands that we should take them with us,' Waqr retorted. 'If indeed we are enemies of Muslims, then why are you asking to come into an alliance with us? And if at all you want us to join hands, then we are good people,' he concluded.
Context: UP Polls and the Opposition Alliance Puzzle
This comes amid intensifying manoeuvring ahead of the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, where the Muslim vote bloc — estimated at over 19% of the electorate — has historically been split among Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP), and AIMIM. Notably, Congress and the SP have their own seat-sharing tensions, making AIMIM's overture even more politically complicated.
Owaisi's call for a pre-poll alliance, and the swift, multi-voiced rejection from Congress, reflects a broader anxiety within the opposition about vote fragmentation — and the extent to which minority-focused regional parties, critics argue, end up aiding the very formations they claim to oppose. Whether AIMIM's outreach gains any traction before polling season will be closely watched.
Point of View
Congress attempts to consolidate minority votes that might otherwise drift — a tried tactic, but one that risks sounding defensive given Congress's own contested record on communal violence. Owaisi's outreach, however awkward, signals AIMIM's diminishing returns as a solo player in UP. The more interesting question is whether the SP, which has stayed silent, sees AIMIM as a bigger threat than Congress does.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Imran Masood say about AIMIM and BJP?
Congress MP Imran Masood said that even when AIMIM wins 5–7 seats, its lawmakers end up supporting a BJP government, citing Bihar as a recent example. He argued this pattern of vote-splitting ultimately helps the BJP win in Uttar Pradesh.
Why did Asaduddin Owaisi call for an alliance ahead of UP elections?
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday appealed to political peers to consider a pre-poll alliance before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Congress swiftly rejected the overture, with multiple leaders alleging the call was tactical and contradicted AIMIM's own years-long criticism of Congress.
What is Congress's position on an alliance with AIMIM?
Congress has categorically rejected any alliance with AIMIM. Spokesperson Surendra Rajput stated there had been no discussions from Congress's side, and added that 'no alliance can be formed by putting a gun to someone's ear.'
What historical contradictions did Congress leaders raise against AIMIM?
Congress leader Asim Waqr pointed out that AIMIM has labelled Congress an 'enemy of Muslims' for 29 years, citing events from the Moradabad riots to the Babri Masjid issue. He questioned why AIMIM would now seek an alliance with a party it has long vilified.
Why does the AIMIM-Congress row matter for Uttar Pradesh politics?
Muslim voters constitute over 19% of the UP electorate and have historically been split among Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and AIMIM. The split is widely seen as a key factor enabling BJP victories, making the question of minority-vote consolidation central to opposition strategy ahead of the UP polls.
