The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, is set to kick off its Bihar Assembly election campaign with a four day tour named the Seemanchal Nyay Yatra. The Yatra will run from September 24 to September 27 in the Seemanchal region, starting from Kishanganj. The event will include public meetings, roadshows, corner meetings, and dialogues aimed at pressing development and justice demands for the underdeveloped region.
Where & How It Will Proceed
- The Yatra will begin in Kishanganj and cover assembly segments like Thakurganj, Bahadurganj, Kochadaman, Jokihat, Araria, Purnia, Baisi, Amour, Katihar, Balrampur, Kadwa, and Pranpur.
- Each day is scheduled with different public meetings and roadshows. Mr. Owaisi will visit multiple constituencies each day to engage directly with voters and grassroots leaders.
- AIMIM aims to highlight issues such as infrastructure neglect, inadequate healthcare, low education access, poverty, and water/road connectivity problems in Seemanchal.
What AIMIM is Seeking
- Along with raising development concerns, Mr. Owaisi is demanding a Seemanchal Region Development Council under Article 371 of the Constitution to ensure focused resources and governance for the area.
- The party plans to use the Yatra to strengthen its support base and contest more seats than it did previously. In the 2020 Bihar Assembly election, AIMIM contested 19–25 seats in Seemanchal (varies in reports) and won five seats, all in Seemanchal.
- Influential local leaders and social activists are reported to be in talks with AIMIM to join its ticket, reflecting possible expansion of its footprint in the region.
Why This Yatra is Significant
- Seemanchal is regarded as one of Bihar’s most neglected regions in terms of development indices. AIMIM’s campaign seems to focus on giving voice to communities that have long felt left behind.
- The Yatra also positions AIMIM’s narrative squarely around “justice” and “backwardness” both politically resonant in election times.
- The demand for a constitutional council hints at seeking structural change, not just short term promises.
What to Watch
- How voters in Seemanchal respond during the Yatra whether AIMIM can build momentum.
- Reactions from other political parties, especially RJD, BJP, Congress, over AIMIM’s demands and growing presence.
- Whether AIMIM gets any new local leaders on board and increases its contesting seats beyond Seemanchal.
- How concrete AIMIM’s promises become in terms of offering policy solutions or legislation.
