Owaisi’s Abdul Pitch Targets SP And Congress
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has revived his “Abdul” campaign message ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, urging Muslims to seek elected office and greater influence in political decision-making.
At recent rallies, Owaisi argued that Muslim voters should move beyond organising meetings, raising slogans and supporting established political families. His message targeted the Samajwadi Party and Congress, which he accused of depending on Muslim support without creating sufficient leadership opportunities.
Speaking in Rampur district on October 18, he said young people from the community should aspire to become MLAs and MPs. At Kairana on October 25, he sharpened his criticism of Akhilesh Yadav, accusing the SP leadership of prioritising the Yadav family.
How Abdul Became A Political Symbol
The carpet-laying metaphor predates the current campaign. Owaisi used similar language before the 2022 UP election to question whether Muslim voters were receiving adequate political representation.
The expression gained further attention in April 2022 when Fasahat Ali Khan Shanu, then an associate of Azam Khan, criticised the SP leadership. His argument was that Muslim supporters performed organisational work and faced personal hardship while others enjoyed political power.
Owaisi has since used the metaphor to demand a stronger independent political voice. His latest campaign presents “Abdul” as a symbol of a voter seeking leadership rather than remaining dependent on established parties.
Congress Questions AIMIM’s Telangana Record
Congress leaders in Hyderabad have responded by questioning whether Owaisi has expanded leadership opportunities in his own state.
Mohammed Waliullah Sameer, the Congress’s Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency in-charge, asked why AIMIM’s electoral presence remained concentrated in and around Hyderabad. Hyderabad Congress chief Khalid Saifullah Syed questioned the Owaisi family’s continued hold on the Hyderabad parliamentary seat since 1984.
Congress leader Shama Mohamed also questioned why AIMIM contested only nine of Telangana’s 119 Assembly constituencies in 2023. The party won seven of those seats.
SP spokesperson Abbas Haider criticised Owaisi’s approach as divisive and defended the party’s broader social coalition. Akhilesh Yadav also rejected Owaisi’s criticism and reaffirmed his support for Azam Khan.
AIMIM Faces A Tough UP Election Test
The challenge for AIMIM is converting its campaign message into electoral support. The party won no seats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election and secured approximately 0.49% of the statewide vote.
Owaisi has sought cooperation with the SP and Congress ahead of 2027, but Akhilesh has indicated that the existing SP-Congress partnership will continue.
AIMIM is now seeking support in Muslim-concentrated constituencies, particularly in western Uttar Pradesh. Its campaign has brought representation and leadership into sharper focus, but its prospects will depend on local organisation, candidates and its ability to persuade voters to shift their support.
