Lucknow, June 16 -- All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that his party is open to a political alliance to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Uttar Pradesh 2027 assembly elections. Speaking to a news channel in Lucknow before leaving for Hyderabad, Owaisi clarified that while he is open to partnering with other opposition groups, any such arrangement must be built on a foundation of mutual respect and fair representation. "We are ready for an alliance, but it must be based on respect and equality," he said. "Muslims will no longer just lay carpets for others. Now, it will be about sharing power and partnership," he added. Any talks to stop the BJP would only proceed if AIMIM is given its due share with dignity, he said. Owaisi accused the Samajwadi Party of running a false campaign against AIMIM during the Bihar elections. He also hit out at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. On Sunday, Owaisi formally announced his party's Uttar Pradesh president Shaukat Ali as the candidate for the Matera assembly constituency in Bahraich district for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections. Addressing a large public rally at Shankarpur Chowk in Matera, Owaisi claimed that the party's strength would change the political dynamics in Matera, Bahraich, and across Uttar Pradesh. Matera has been a traditional Samajwadi Party bastion since the 2008 delimitation. The current MLA is Maria Shah, daughter-in-law of senior SP leader Wakar Ahmed Shah. By fielding Shaukat Ali from this Muslim-majority seat, AIMIM is directly challenging the SP in one of its core areas....