HYDERABAD: After successfully testing waters in Maharashtra Assembly elections last year, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Saturday announced its plans in the run-up to Bihar polls, which is two months away. The party supremo Asaduddin Owaisi stated that his party would contest from Seemanchal region, which comprise mainly four districts - Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj and Katihar.
“Seemanchal has remained neglected in Bihar and remain most backward. We want to develop this region,” he said. MIM will focus its campaign on a demand to achieve separate regional development council for Seemanchal under Article 371 of the Constitution. The Hyderabad MP said the backwardness of Seemanchal would be the main poll issue for his party.
The party has appointed two-time Bihar MLA Akhtarul Iman, who hails from Seemanchal, as party’s Bihar unit president.
Out of the total 243 seats in the State Assembly, MIM would contest from 24 or less seats. “We will contest along the lines of overall development and justice. As a strategy, we will not reveal how many seats we are contesting. Candidates have already been decided,’’ Owaisi said.
According to him, the party has a considerable ground in Seemanchal region which, he said, comprises 75 per cent Muslims and Dalits. He replied in the negative when asked about the pre-poll.