AIMIM’s Waris Pathan accuses RJD and Congress of splitting minority votes during Bihar vote count

In the aftermath of the Bihar assembly election results, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan has directed criticism towards the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, accusing them of fracturing minority votes. Pathan firmly stated that his party does not align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dismissing claims that AIMIM serves as the BJP’s ‘B team.’

AIMIM’s Performance in Bihar Elections

The AIMIM has claimed a lead in five assembly seats, namely Jokihat, Thakurganj, Kochadhaman, Amour, and Baisi. Pathan expressed optimism regarding potential victories in seven to eight constituencies. He attributed this progress to the party’s identification with issues affecting the minority community and its strength in Seemanchal areas.

Criticism of the Mahagathbandhan

• Pathan accused the RJD and Congress of mismanaging minority votes.
• He emphasized that AIMIM had proposed an alliance by seeking only six seats from the Mahagathbandhan, a request that was denied.
• Pathan remarked that the coalition’s decision to nominate Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party as the Deputy Chief Ministerial candidate was a tactical blunder.

NDA’s Dominance in the Election

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is on track for a significant victory. Current trends indicate that the NDA could surpass its 2010 record of 206 seats.

Current Seat Standings

As of the latest data, the NDA has secured:

The RJD leads in 31 seats, while Congress leads in 4 seats, according to the Election Commission’s latest updates. With the AIMIM holding five seats, the current election dynamics highlight the challenges faced by the Mahagathbandhan in consolidating minority support.

Pathan’s comments notch up the political stakes in Bihar as his party seeks to gain a more significant foothold in future elections, particularly among the minority communities.