Politics · India Bureau
AIMIM ex-spokesperson joins Congress, criticises Owaisi party
Syed Asim Waqar, a former spokesperson for the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, has switched to the Indian National Congress, alleging that his former party prioritised electoral battles against opposition parties over the stated goal of defeating the BJP.
LSN India ·
Waqar's departure marks another significant exit from the AIMIM ranks and adds to mounting criticism of the Hyderabad-based party's political strategy. In his move to Congress, Waqar levelled charges that the AIMIM had given only rhetorical commitment to countering the Bharatiya Janata Party while directing its organisational efforts against rival opposition parties in electoral contests.
The defection underscores growing tensions within the AIMIM leadership structure, with questions raised about the party's tactical approach in an increasingly polarised political landscape. Waqar's allegations suggest friction between the party's stated ideological objectives and its ground-level political operations.
The Congress, India's principal opposition party, has been actively seeking to broaden its base and attract leaders from regional and community-focused political outfits. Waqar's induction reflects the party's efforts to strengthen its organisational presence and expand its appeal among key electoral constituencies.
The AIMIM, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has faced periodic scrutiny over its political positioning and electoral calculations across India's polarised political terrain. The party has maintained a significant presence in certain pockets of the country, particularly in the Deccan region and select urban centres.