Patna: In a blistering rally address that has electrified Bihar’s pre-poll air, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi issued a stark ultimatum to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and his party: ally with us or risk handing the state back to BJP-Nitish Kumar.
Speaking to a fervent crowd here on Monday, Owaisi lambasted the RJD for stonewalling alliance talks ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections, accusing them of arrogance that could prove fatal.
Owaisi’s barbs were personal and pointed. Recalling Tejashwi’s quip about a letter reaching his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, instead of him, the Hyderabad MP recounted how AIMIM’s Bihar president, Akhtarul Iman, hand-delivered a missive — with a fanfare of drums — to underline their offer. “We seek just six seats,” Owaisi quoted the letter, “and if you become Chief Minister, we want no ministerial berths. Decide for yourself what we gain from this — it’s all for Bihar.”
The firebrand leader didn’t mince words on the RJD’s reluctance. “The only difference between us and them is that we state our demands clearly, yet they’re unwilling to even talk. Bihar’s people now see who truly wants to block another Modi-Nitish regime — and who doesn’t,” he thundered.
Turning the screw, Owaisi warned, “Listen up, Tejashwi, listen up, RJD leaders — your naivety will hurt you, your hubris will weaken you. You think you can do it alone? You can’t. To stop BJP from returning in Bihar, you’ll need to grasp the hands of Owaisi and Akhtarul Iman.”
With the Mahagathbandhan’s unity fraying and elections looming, Owaisi’s challenge spotlights the high-stakes Muslim vote calculus in the state. As RJD mulls its response, this public showdown could redefine Opposition dynamics — or deepen the divide.