LUCKNOW, Oct. 5 -- All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday reiterated his party's position on an alliance ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, days after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav rejected his October 2 deadline for a possible tie-up. Owaisi also reiterated his demand for greater political representation for Muslims, saying they should not be treated as a "vote bank".

Owaisi was speaking to reporters at Lucknow airport before leaving for Shravasti when he was asked about Akhilesh's recent remarks that the SP would continue with its existing alliance partners, which had performed strongly against the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.

"We have stated our position and ...