The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Tuesday said that it would contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka.
The party, which has its headquarters in Darussalam in Hyderabad, made the announcement after a meeting between AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi with the party's Karnataka unit.
"There is no difference between BJP and Congress...Congress speaks about freedom of expression. But, there is no freedom of expression in the Congress-ruled states. They are not allowing me to address a public meeting in Karnataka," Owaisi was quoted as saying.
Elections in Karnataka, which has a 224-member assembly, are likely to be held in the first half of 2018.
“If we are silent our identity will be end in Indian politics,” he added, condemning the arrest of AIMIM Karnataka President, Usman Ghani, during the celebrations of Tipu Sultan jayanti.
Owaisi and the AIMIM are known for their vocal stand on many issues.
Earlier this week, Owaisi accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of "playing with fire" on the issue of the Ayodhya dispute with its "obnoxious" statements.
Reacting to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments that "only Ram Mandir and nothing else" will be built at the disputed site in Ayodhya, the AIMIM chief said, "This is a very delicate matter and RSS is playing with fire on this issue.”
"The obnoxious statement by the RSS chief clearly gives a message that the RSS is assuming to be the Supreme Court. The RSS is trying to give a message that they know what the judgment of the apex court will be, and that would be on the basis of ‘aastha' (faith) but not on evidence or Constitution," he added.
He said that by making such "obnoxious statements" the RSS is trying to convey that it would go ahead with its plans to make India a Hindutva country "come what may". Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS of trying to create an atmosphere of fear, Owaisi said that this kind of politics is not good for the country.