Bahraich, June 14 -- Signalling an aggressive expansion of AIMIM's footprint in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, party president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday announced AIMIM's Uttar Pradesh chief Shaukat Ali as the party's candidate from the Matera Assembly constituency in Bahraich and said the party was willing to enter into a pre-poll alliance to defeat the BJP, provided it was based on "respect and equality."

Addressing a large public gathering in Matera, Owaisi said AIMIM would not accept a subordinate role in any opposition alliance and stressed that the conversation should now be about political representation and power sharing.

"If anyone wants to come together to stop the BJP, we are ready. But it has to be an a...