In 2020, Owaisi’s party won five seats, only to lose four of them to RJD within two years when his MLAs jumped the ship. At present, AIMIM has only one MLA in the 243-member Assembly. This time, AIMIM is attempting to channelise the anger of Muslim voters in its favour, apparently over issues like migration, unemployment and the Waqf Act.

Notably, one-fourth of Bihar’s 2.31 crore Muslim population live in the Seemanchal region. The 24 constituencies of this region—about 10% of the state’s total 243 seats—will go to the polls in the second phase.

The grievance among Muslims in the region is that Mahagathbandhan chose Mukesh Sahani—who represents Mallah community—accounting for barely 2-3% of state’s population as its deputy chief ministerial face, instead of someone from the Muslim community, which makes about 17% of the population.

Seemanchal is also important for RJD-Congress alliance which is eyeing the Muslim and Yadav votes. AIMIM is accused of playing vote-splitting among Muslim electorate. This split could benefit JD(U)-BJP.

“My experience shows that Muslims of Seemanchal region vote wisely. They will vote for AIMIM in the case they see a close fight with JD(U) or RJD candidates,” said an analyst.

Owaisi is in alliance with Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) and his Janata Party. JSP has posed a challenge to AIMIM by fielding Muslim candidates in the region. ‘Development, education and good governance’, are the major poll plank of JSP in this election. The village ‘chaupal’ organised by the party ahead of election also became a talking point.