LUCKNOW, Nov. 12 -- AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) president Chandrashekhar Azad on Thursday announced a political alliance for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, naming the Nagina MP as their chief ministerial candidate and vowing to prevent the BJP from securing a third consecutive term in the state.
The two leaders announced the formation of the 'Samajik Parivartan Morcha' at a joint press conference in Lucknow, presenting the new front as an alternative to the existing political formations in Uttar Pradesh. The alliance aims to consolidate support among Dalits, Muslims, backward classes and other marginalised communities ahead of the elections to the 403-member Assembly. Owaisi said the alliance would work towards bringing political change to Uttar Pradesh and challenging the BJP's dominance in the state. He expressed confidence that the partnership would emerge as a strong political force in the upcoming elections.
"We have decided to form 'Samajik Parivartan Morcha'. I can say with confidence this will be a strong Morcha to stop the BJP from coming to power in UP for the third time," Owaisi said while addressing reporters alongside Azad. Announcing the chief ministerial candidate, the Hyderabad MP said the AIMIM was committed to making the new alliance successful and would work with Azad to achieve its political objectives. Owaisi described Azad as the alliance's choice to lead Uttar Pradesh and said the two parties would work together to secure public support. He maintained that the success of the front would represent a victory for the people of the state.
Azad, who represents the Nagina Lok Sabha constituency, said the alliance would focus on the interests of disadvantaged communities and seek to provide a political platform for those who had been denied adequate representation. The partnership marks an attempt by the two parties to establish a third political front in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP is seeking another term in office while the Samajwadi Party and Congress are positioning themselves as the principal opposition.
The alliance is expected to focus particularly on constituencies with substantial Dalit and Muslim populations, including parts of western Uttar Pradesh and the Rohilkhand region. The two communities together account for a significant proportion of the state's population, making their electoral preferences an important factor in Assembly contests. The new political arrangement could complicate the Samajwadi Party's efforts to consolidate support among backward classes, Dalits and minorities under its PDA political strategy. However, the electoral impact of the alliance remains uncertain, given the relatively limited performance of both parties in previous Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
In the 2022 Assembly polls, the AIMIM contested 95 constituencies but failed to win a seat, securing approximately 0.49 per cent of the statewide vote. The Azad Samaj Party also failed to secure representation in the Assembly despite contesting more than 100 seats. Azad subsequently strengthened his political profile by winning the Nagina parliamentary constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, establishing himself as a prominent Dalit political leader in the state. Owaisi, meanwhile, has sought to expand his party's presence beyond its traditional strongholds by appealing to Muslim voters and raising issues concerning political representation. Before announcing the alliance with Azad, the AIMIM had attempted to secure a place in the broader opposition arrangement involving the Samajwadi Party and Congress.
Owaisi had expressed interest in joining the opposition alliance and sought a response from its leadership, but the proposal did not receive a favourable response. The decision to join hands with the Azad Samaj Party follows those unsuccessful efforts and signals the emergence of another electoral formation ahead of the 2027 contest. The Samajwadi Party has played down the significance of the new partnership. Its president, Akhilesh Yadav, has maintained that voters in Uttar Pradesh have already decided to support his party in the next Assembly elections.
The BJP has also responded to the developments, with party representatives asserting that all political parties are free to contest elections while questioning Owaisi's political approach. Political observers believe the alliance's performance will depend on whether it can translate its appeal among Dalit and Muslim voters into constituency-level electoral support. Its ability to build an organisational network, identify viable candidates and negotiate seat-sharing arrangements will also be important in determining its influence.
The parties have indicated that their campaign will seek to address issues affecting young people, farmers and economically disadvantaged communities, alongside demands for greater political representation. The alliance is expected to organise a major public rally on November 26 as part of its preparations for the Assembly elections. With the 2027 polls approaching, the formation of the Samajik Parivartan Morcha adds another dimension to Uttar Pradesh's political contest, potentially influencing electoral calculations for both the ruling BJP and the opposition parties.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.