AIMIM misses Owaisi brother in Seemanchal

Kishanganj: The scene outside Kishanganj’s Chanchal Palace hotel is vibrant. Security guard of an ATM located nearby, who has been observing the activities for a couple of weeks from outside the hotel, said, “It is the headquarters of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Every strategy is decided here. There is usually no parking place left, all occupied by huge cars.”
Inside the hotel, the political temperature is hot because AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi is single-handedly fighting PM Narendra Modi-led NDA and Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance in Seemanchal.His firebrand brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, second-in-command of AIMIM, is not with him because an arrest warrant is pending against him. Senior Owaisi is camping at this hotel for a few weeks where he strategises his aggressive campaign to win all the six seats it is contesting in Bihar, for the first time.
The political battle for Seemanchal, a region of northeastern Bihar, has become a prestige fight for Owaisi. The battle is also crucial for Congress and BJP. BJP has fielded 18 candidates and Congress 10 in Seemanchal region comprising 24 seats. From NDA, BJP has fielded the largest number of candidates and from grand alliance Congress tops the list.
Owaisi looks calm and composed as he tears into Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar at election rallies with an aim to win the hearts of Muslim voters. AIMIM candidates are locked in a tough battle in all the six seats the party is contesting.
The candidates of AIMIM believe that the absence of Akbaruddin Owaisi will have an impact. All six AIMIM nominees wanted to capitalise on Akbraruddin’s firebrand speeches and had requested the party strategists to sanction at least two rallies of the junior Owaisi in their constituencies. They believe that the junior Owaisi through his fiery speeches sways young Muslim voters better than the AIMIM boss. Kishanganj SP Rajiv Ranjan has issued an arrest warrant against Akbaruddin after a case was registered against him with Kochadhaman police station for an alleged inflammatory speech against PM Modi at an election rally. Akbaruddin’s bail plea was rejected on October 26 by a local court. The next hearing in the case will take place on November 6, one day after the votes are cast in Seemanchal.
AIMIM nominee for Amour assembly segment Nawazis Alam said, “Akbaruddin speaks truth, and truth hurts. He is the Muslim youth icon. He raises voice against tyranny.”
Akhtar-ul-Iman, AIMIM Bihar chief, for whom Akbaruddin was addressing the first rally when he was booked, said, “He is a very influential vote catcher. The wonderful response to his rally had frightened the opposition parties.”
“We are very strong and ahead of others,” said Muhammad Adil Hasan Azad, AIMIM nominee from Balrampur assembly segment in Katihar district. Akbaruddin had accompanied Adil when he filed his nomination. “He had drawn a large crowd during nomination,” he claimed.