AIMIM-ASP Alliance Picks Chandra Shekhar Azad as UP CM Face, Vows to Challenge BJP's Third Consecutive Term

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Azad Samaj Party (ASP) have announced a political alliance ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, naming ASP chief Chandra Shekhar Azad as their chief ministerial candidate. The announcement was made by AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi during a press conference in Lucknow on Thursday.

The two parties have named their new alliance the Samajik Parivartan Morcha (SPM). Announcing the partnership, Owaisi described it as a strong political formation based on political and intellectual understanding. He formally introduced Azad as the alliance's chief ministerial face and said both parties were committed to working together in the upcoming electoral battle. The leaders also announced plans to organise a rally on November 26. The alliance has expressed its intention to contest all 403 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh in the 2027 Assembly elections. A political party or coalition must secure at least 202 seats to form a government in the state.

The AIMIM-ASP partnership is significant because of its potential to consolidate support among Muslim and Dalit communities. Muslims constitute approximately 20% of Uttar Pradesh's population, while Dalits account for nearly 21%. By joining forces, the two parties hope to strengthen their political presence among these sections and create an alternative platform centred on social justice and representation.

The announcement also adds another dimension to the opposition's political calculations in Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party and Congress have traditionally sought support among several of the same voter groups, and the emergence of the new alliance could influence the distribution of opposition votes in the state.

Explaining the purpose of the partnership, Owaisi said the alliance aimed to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from returning to power in Uttar Pradesh for a third consecutive term. Chandra Shekhar Azad also criticised successive governments, alleging that their promises of poverty reduction, social equality and protection for disadvantaged communities had not translated into meaningful improvements.

Azad argued that despite changes in political leadership, large sections of the Bahujan community continued to face economic hardship, caste-based discrimination and a lack of access to basic facilities. He said the Samajik Parivartan Morcha was not merely another opposition grouping but a platform intended to bring together marginalised, deprived, oppressed and exploited communities.

He further indicated that the alliance would seek to expand its political base by encouraging more people from disadvantaged sections of society to join the movement. The leadership believes that a broader social coalition could help strengthen its presence across different parts of Uttar Pradesh. The newly formed alliance has also invited the Samajwadi Party and Congress to join its efforts against the BJP government. Owaisi and Azad said opposition parties interested in working towards this objective would be welcome. The invitation comes as the Samajwadi Party and Congress continue preparing their respective strategies and seat-sharing arrangements for the 2027 elections.

The electoral performance of AIMIM and ASP in the previous Assembly elections highlights the challenges ahead. In 2022, AIMIM contested 95 seats but failed to win any, securing approximately 0.49% of the vote share. The Azad Samaj Party also failed to secure a seat despite contesting more than 100 constituencies, receiving around 0.13% of the votes. The Samajwadi Party won 111 of the 347 seats it contested, recording a vote share of 43.82%. The Congress, which fielded candidates in 399 constituencies, managed to win only two seats with 2.33% of the total votes.

With the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching in 2027, the AIMIM-ASP alliance will face the task of converting its political announcement into an effective statewide organisation. Its performance will depend on its ability to build grassroots support, select candidates and attract voters beyond its existing political base. By naming Chandra Shekhar Azad as its chief ministerial candidate and announcing plans to contest all 403 seats, the Samajik Parivartan Morcha has outlined an ambitious electoral strategy. Its emergence is likely to become an important development in the evolving political contest in Uttar Pradesh.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.