New Delhi: Preparations for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are in full swing. Political parties have begun pulling out all the stops to secure a victory. Ahead of the UP elections, a ‘third front’ has emerged through an alliance between Asaduddin Owaisi’s party and Chandrashekhar Azad’s party. Both leaders announced the alliance during a press conference in the state capital, Lucknow.
Chandrashekhar Azad has been named as the alliance’s candidate for the Chief Minister’s post. During the announcement, Azad also extended an invitation to the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress to join the alliance. Meanwhile, Imran Masood, the working president of the Congress state unit and Member of Parliament from Saharanpur, has taken a dig at this alliance and raised questions regarding it.
He questioned who these leaders would actually benefit by contesting the UP elections. To illustrate his point, he cited the example of the Bihar Assembly elections, noting that while Owaisi’s party won five seats in Bihar, it was the BJP that ended up forming the government.
Alliances based on caste and religion are not appropriate – Imran Masood.
Congress MP Imran Masood questioned the alliance between Chandrashekhar Azad and Asaduddin Owaisi, stating that forming alliances along the lines of caste and religion is not healthy for politics. According to him, the politics of polarisation has already caused significant harm. He acknowledged that everyone has the right to express their views and contest elections, but added that, ultimately, it is the public that must make the final decision.
Owaisi benefited the BJP in Bihar – Masood.
Imran Masood indirectly accused Owaisi of having benefited the BJP in Bihar. Taking a jab at him, he remarked, “You went to Bihar, won five seats, and the BJP formed the government there. Now, if you contest elections in UP, tell me who will benefit?” His question was clear: if both leaders contest the UP elections, which party will ultimately gain from it? With this, Imran Masood questioned the very nature of such alliance-based politics. Who will suffer losses due to this alliance is for the public to decide.
Congress MP Imran Masood described this alliance as a profitable deal for the BJP. He also alluded to the ‘bulldozer’ actions, asking: “In UP, whom are Owaisi and Chandrashekhar harming? Are they harming those who operate the bulldozers, or the families whose homes are being demolished?
If such politics were to cause harm to those who wield the bulldozers, then it would be a matter worth discussing. Furthermore, he questioned who, ultimately, would suffer a political setback as a result of such an electoral alliance.
