Muslim leaders exit Chandrasekhar's party ahead of 2027 elections

Senior Muslim leaders Amir Alam, a former MP, and Nawajeesh Alam, an ex-MLA, have resigned from the Aadhaar Samaj Party, marking the latest departures from the outfit led by Chandrasekhar Azad. Both leaders are scheduled to join the Congress party on September 23, according to party sources.

The resignations represent a setback for Azad's political strategy in western Uttar Pradesh, a region where the party has sought to build its base around a Dalit-Muslim electoral coalition. The exits come at a critical juncture as political parties begin preparing for the 2027 state assembly elections.

Amir Alam and Nawajeesh Alam's defection to the Congress signals possible challenges to Azad's political consolidation efforts in the state. The Aadhaar Samaj Party has positioned itself as representing marginalized communities, but the departures suggest growing concerns about the party's electoral prospects and organizational strength.

The Congress party's absorption of the two leaders underscores ongoing realignments among opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh as they seek to strengthen their position ahead of the next state elections. Both leaders bring considerable organizational experience from their previous tenures in elected office.