Asaduddin Owaisi meets Shivpal Yadav in Lucknow
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi met Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) founder Shivpal Yadav in Lucknow on Tuesday. The meeting comes ahead of the high stakes of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections due in early 2022.
Asaduddin Owaisi, who had already announced that his party AIMIM will contest on 100 seats, is looking for a strong partner in the state, as he does not have a big face in UP.
The meeting between Owaisi and Shivpal Yadav lasted for an hour at his residence on Vikramaditya Road. Owaisi described Shivpal as a big leader, although the latter did not say anything on the development.
Earlier, Owaisi and Shivpal Yadav had met at a wedding in Azamgarh, after which Owaisi tried to meet Shivpal Yadav while he was in Lucknow, but both times, Shivpal Yadav was out of town.
On Tuesday, Owaisi sought an appointment with Shivpal Yadav and reached his house at around 7.30 pm.
Owaisi had fielded 38 candidates in the 2017 UP assembly elections, of which 37 were defeated.
Owaisi is now eyeing those 100 seats in Muslim-majority areas.
In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims have a vote share of about 19 per cent, but they do not have much importance in about 143 seats.
There are 40 to 45 percent Muslim votes in about 75 assembly seats and 20 to 30 percent in other 70 seats. However, Owaisi is somehow not sure whether he will be able to consolidate all Muslim votes, hence, he is trying to meet Shivpal Yadav.
On the other hand Shivpal Yadav has clearly indicated that his first choice is Samajwadi Party. Shivpal has said that he wants Akhilesh Yadav to become the Chief Minister. It is being said that Shivpal is waiting for Akhilesh Yadav’s reply and is keeping his options open.
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