No Nehru, Gandhi or Yadav: Owaisi wants young Muslims to step up for UP polls

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has taken a swipe at dynastic politics, declaring that his party will not make any Nehru, Gandhi or Yadav its leader and will instead promote young Muslim men and women within its ranks.The AIMIM chief's remarks at an event in Rampur come as political activity gathers pace ahead of the high-stakes 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with the party eyeing around 200 seats.Owaisi's visit has drawn attention to AIMIM's potential impact on the state's electoral calculations, with the party expected to focus primarily on constituencies with a sizeable Muslim population.In his address, he said Muslim youth had the talent and potential to lead but were often denied opportunities and a platform to prove themselves. “We will not make any Nehru, Gandhi, or Yadav our leader. AIMIM is giving young Muslims an opportunity,” he said, stressing that young men and women would be encouraged to rise through the party's leadership.Owaisi argued that Muslim youth had the same capabilities as young people from other communities but lacked adequate opportunities to advance in politics. “These young sons and daughters will stand in our ranks,” he said, adding that they should become leaders, take responsibility for the country and work to secure justice for the oppressed.Apna Dal (S) MLA Shafiq Ahmed Ansari had said ahead of the rally that Owaisi's party wanted to expand and that his presence could hurt his party electorally.Ansari claimed that people across communities, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, supported him.Owaisi has repeatedly offered to join hands with opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), to challenge the BJP in the 2027 elections.SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, however, has indicated that his party intends to continue with its existing alliance partners.AIMIM has a limited presence in Uttar Pradesh and has often faced allegations from opposition leaders that it helps the BJP by splitting anti-BJP votes.Owaisi has denied the charge.- Ends