Congress MP calls Owaisi, BJP 'twin brothers' over vote-splitting charge
Synopsis
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari has called Owaisi and the BJP 'twin brothers,' citing Maharashtra and Bihar results as evidence that the AIMIM systematically fractures minority votes to benefit the BJP. The salvo, fired with UP 2027 on the horizon, reveals how deeply the opposition's internal fault lines run — and how contested the Muslim voter bloc has become.
Key Takeaways
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on 19 October 2026 accused AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi of acting as a BJP agent by splitting minority votes.
Tiwari called Owaisi and the BJP 'twin brothers,' citing election outcomes in Maharashtra and Bihar .
In Maharashtra , Tiwari alleged the AIMIM's presence cost opposition candidates in 22 constituencies despite the party winning only 4 seats .
Owaisi had declared in Rampur that he would never accept a Nehru, Gandhi, or Yadav as his leader.
Tiwari also flagged the ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling for protection of voting rights ahead of UP 2027 elections.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Monday, 19 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, accusing him of functioning as an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by splitting opposition votes in key elections. Tiwari's remarks came in direct response to a speech Owaisi delivered in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, where the AIMIM leader declared he would never accept a Nehru, a Gandhi, or a Yadav as his leader.
What Owaisi Said in Rampur
Addressing a gathering in Rampur, Owaisi stressed the need to expand opportunities for young Muslims, arguing they were being denied a platform despite their potential. 'Muslim youth have as much potential as people from other communities... However, they are not given a platform,' Owaisi said, asserting that the AIMIM would provide them pathways to progress. His pointed rejection of Congress and Samajwadi Party lineage figures as acceptable leaders was widely seen as a broadside against the existing opposition bloc.
Congress MP's Counterattack
Responding forcefully, Tiwari described Owaisi and the BJP as 'twin brothers,' arguing that electoral data across multiple states exposed the AIMIM's role in fragmenting the minority vote. 'What standing does Owaisi have to even suggest someone like a Gandhi or a Nehru? His sole function, whether intentional or otherwise, is to divide the minority vote at the behest of the BJP. I can say with full confidence that this individual works for the BJP, as evidenced by election outcomes,' Tiwari said.
Maharashtra and Bihar: The Evidence Tiwari Cited
Tiwari pointed specifically to results in Maharashtra and Bihar to buttress his allegations. In Maharashtra, he claimed that while the AIMIM won four seats, it caused defeats in 22 constituencies by splitting votes that could have gone to non-BJP candidates, ultimately clearing the path for a BJP-led government. He alleged a similar pattern played out in Bihar. 'The results clearly show that he operates as an agent for the BJP. Owaisi and the BJP are twin brothers,' Tiwari said. These are contested claims that the AIMIM has consistently denied in the past.
Electoral Roll Controversy and 2027 Stakes
Tiwari also weighed in on the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). He called for robust protection of citizens' voting rights, framing it as essential ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. 'The government in the country must be changed. The nation's economic situation and foreign policy have both failed. The public wants relief from inflation and unemployment, and a change in government is essential to safeguard the right to vote,' he said. The exchange underscores how vote-share arithmetic among minority communities has become a central battleground as parties position themselves for Uttar Pradesh 2027 — a state that sends the largest bloc of Lok Sabha members and has historically shaped national political momentum.
Point of View
But its repetition ahead of UP 2027 signals a deliberate strategy to consolidate minority votes under the INDIA bloc by delegitimising AIMIM's independent lane. The irony is that making Owaisi the villain actually amplifies his visibility. More critically, Tiwari's Maharashtra arithmetic — four seats won, 22 lost — deserves scrutiny: correlation between AIMIM presence and opposition losses does not by itself establish causation or coordination. Congress risks looking like it is trying to monopolise a community's political representation rather than earning it.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Congress MP Pramod Tiwari call Owaisi and the BJP 'twin brothers'?
Tiwari made the remark to accuse AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi of splitting minority votes in favour of the BJP. He cited election results in Maharashtra and Bihar as evidence, alleging the AIMIM's presence cost opposition candidates votes while benefiting BJP-led alliances.
What did Owaisi say in Rampur that triggered the Congress response?
Owaisi declared at a Rampur gathering that he would never accept a Nehru, a Gandhi, or a Yadav as his leader, and called for greater opportunities for Muslim youth. Congress interpreted the remarks as an attack on the opposition coalition and an attempt to position AIMIM as an independent political force.
What is the Congress claim about AIMIM's role in Maharashtra?
Congress MP Tiwari alleged that in Maharashtra, the AIMIM won four seats but caused opposition candidates to lose in 22 constituencies by splitting the vote, ultimately helping the BJP-led government come to power. The AIMIM has historically denied that its electoral participation benefits the BJP.
How does this exchange connect to the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections?
Both parties are sharpening their positions ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, where the minority vote share is considered a crucial variable. The BJP, Congress, AIMIM, and the Samajwadi Party are all vying for influence in a state that sends the largest bloc of Lok Sabha members.
What did Tiwari say about the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision?
Tiwari raised concerns about the ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling for the protection of citizens' voting rights. He argued that safeguarding the right to vote was essential and called for a democratic change of government through elections.
