Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 14 : AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said his party would no longer bow before any political party or seek support from others, pitching the newly formed Samajik Parivartan Morcha as a united political platform ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and backing Chandrashekhar Azad as its Chief Ministerial candidate.
Addressing a public meeting in Meerut, Owaisi urged people to support the alliance between the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Azad Samaj Party (ASP), describing it as a coming together of hearts rather than merely a political arrangement.
"We will no longer bow our heads before any political party, nor will we go begging to anyone, nor will we lay down carpets (work as subservient foot-soldiers) for anyone anymore. Rather, God willing (Insha’Allah), on the strength and power of our unity, you will lead the Azad Samaj Party and the AIMIM party to success and victory," he said.
Owaisi said the two parties had decided to jointly contest the upcoming Assembly elections under the banner of the Samajik Parivartan Morcha and expressed confidence that Azad would become the next Chief Minister of the state.
"Together, we have resolved that in the upcoming assembly elections, Mr. Chandrashekhar Azad--who is currently the Member of Parliament from Nagina--will, God willing (Inshallah Ta'ala), with your prayers and the strength of this united alliance, become the next Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh," he said.
Appealing to people who believe in the ideologies of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Ram Manohar Lohia, and those who value the Constitution, Owaisi urged them to support the alliance to prevent the BJP from returning to power for a third consecutive term.
"To solve our problems, to end injustice, to prevent Yogi (Adityanath) from becoming the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for a third term, and if we truly wish to stop the BJP--then I appeal to all the people of Uttar Pradesh who believe in the message of Babasaheb Ambedkar, who follow the political ideology of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, and who hold the Constitution dear to their hearts: support and vote for the Samajik Parivartan Morcha in the upcoming assembly elections," he said.
Owaisi said the alliance aimed to address issues such as unemployment, the condition of the education system, farmers' concerns and the demand for a High Court bench in western Uttar Pradesh.
Explaining his decision to join hands with Azad, he said, "People ask me, 'Asaduddin Owaisi, why did you shake hands with Chandrashekhar Azad?' To them I respond: 'I have not merely shaken hands; our hearts have united'."
The AIMIM chief also raised allegations of discrimination and injustice in Uttar Pradesh, citing figures and reports concerning hate speech, police encounters and demolitions of mosques and madrasas. Referring to reports by monitoring organisations, including India Hate Lab, he claimed that around 75 per cent of nearly 670 hate speeches documented across the country had taken place in Uttar Pradesh.
Citing figures on police encounters, Owaisi alleged that Muslims had been disproportionately affected. He also referred to demolitions and sealing of religious structures in districts along the Nepal border and other parts of the state.
He named several people whom he alleged had faced injustice and questioned why opposition parties did not raise their cases at public meetings. He also mentioned Hindu men killed in encounters, including Sumit Gurjar, Vikas Dubey and Pushpendra Yadav, to underline that his party opposed all encounters.
"We are against every encounter," he said.
Owaisi called for police accountability and said there should be rule of law instead of what he described as rule by the gun.
"So listen, Insha'Allah, there will be no rule by gun, but rule by law, Insha'Allah. The khaki uniform will be held accountable. They will be punished in court and grind the mill in jail for the rest of their lives, but no one has the authority to shoot to kill," he said.
On economic issues, Owaisi criticised the state government over the prices of essential commodities, including rice, flour, sugar, potatoes, onions and cooking oil. He also raised the demand for a sugarcane price of Rs 600 per quintal and timely payment to farmers.
He promised that the alliance would work towards reducing prices and waiving farmers' debts if voted to power.
"And the sugarcane farmer should get Rs 600 per quintal, right? And the money should be paid within 10 months!" he said.
Owaisi further highlighted the need to create employment opportunities for young people, improve education and establish a High Court bench in western Uttar Pradesh.
Recently, Owaisi and Azad announced the formation of the Samajik Parivartan Morcha at a joint press conference in Lucknow. They said the alliance would jointly contest all 403 Assembly constituencies in the 2027 elections, with Azad as its Chief Ministerial candidate.
Azad clarified that the alliance was not merely a "Third Front" but a platform for social change representing marginalised, deprived, oppressed and exploited sections of society. He also said there were no differences between the two parties over seat-sharing.