After venturing into Maharashtra and Karnataka, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is now trying to expand its base in other parts of the country.
The party headed by Asaduddin Owaisi has sought registration as a state party in the Uttar Pradesh and has also approached the Election Commission of India regarding it, states a Deccan Chronicle report.
“The AIMIM has approached the Election Commission for registration as a state party. Once the process of registration is over, we will start our preparations for the assembly polls in a big way," Shauqat Ali, AIMIM’s state convener, told the newspaper.
Ali also mentioned that the party has started screening candidates for panchayat elections, which will be a dry run before they contest the state elections. “In all, we will contest from around 40 districts except Bundelkhand and Varanasi as our membership drive is under way in these regions,” he said.
Earlier in August, the AIMIM contested the BBMP polls in Karnataka for the first time and fielded its candidates in 28 wards in the city. However, they did not register a single win.
Compared to that, the party had an impressive debut performance in the Maharashtra state elections last year when it won two Assembly seats, sending a wake-up call to major parties in the state.
In the Aurangabad municipal polls in April 2015, the AIMIM took many by surprise when they emerged “as the second largest party winning 23 seats ahead of the Congress and the NCP”.