We are yet to decide on joining fray: Owaisi aide

AS the All India Majlis Ittihadul Musalemeen leader and firebrand Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi is keeping his cards close to the chest, suspense continues about his Bihar agenda.
Though the Majlis founder and Owaisi's father, late Salauddin Owaisi restricted the Muslim-centric party to the Old Hyderabad area, Asaduddin, of late, has displayed national ambitions.In case Owaisi enters Bihar poll arena, he is likely to make things easier for the NDA as every vote polled by his party will be at the cost of the RJD-JD(U)-Congress combine.
Owaisi’s party contested the last Maharashtra assembly election winning two seats in the assembly. The Majlis was the runner-up in two more assembly segments. Owaisi's presence ensured the defeat of Congress candidates in nearly two dozen constituencies of the Maharashtra assembly.
A few weeks back, Owaisi made an exploratory visit to the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal areas of Bihar. When contacted, former MLA Akhtarul Iman, Owaisi's Bihar host during the exploratory visit, told TOI on Wednesday the Majlis leader has not taken a final call on contesting Bihar election. As election in Seemanchal is scheduled for the last phase, Owaisi has the time needed to make a final decision, said Iman.
A final decision was expected this weekend, he said. Akhtarul Iman, it may be recalled, hit the headlines during the 2014 parliamentary election when he, as the JD-U official candidate, withdrew from the contest a few days before polling to facilitate the victory of Congress candidate Maulana Israrul Haque.