Asaduddin Owaisi has signalled a conditional willingness to support the Nitish Kumar–led government in Bihar, but only if the chronically neglected Seemanchal region is finally prioritized in matters of development and governance. Speaking at a public gathering in Amour, the AIMIM chief emphasized that his party’s support would not come automatically. Instead, he insisted that any alliance must be rooted in concrete commitments that directly address the longstanding deprivation, infrastructural decay and administrative apathy experienced by Seemanchal’s residents.
Owaisi’s remarks came at a moment of renewed political relevance for his party. Despite the NDA’s sweeping victory across most of Bihar, the AIMIM managed to retain significant influence in Seemanchal, winning five seats — the same tally it achieved in 2020. At that time, however, four of its legislators defected to the RJD, weakening the party’s organizational foothold. This election, Owaisi has been determined to avoid a repeat of that setback, and his tone reflected a desire to consolidate AIMIM’s hold on its core constituencies.
In his address, Owaisi criticized what he described as the lopsided concentration of development in regions such as Patna and Rajgir, areas that routinely absorb the bulk of government attention and resources. He argued that such patterns of inequality could no longer be justified when districts in Seemanchal continue to grapple with persistent flooding caused by the overflowing Kosi River, widespread migration driven by a lack of employment opportunities, and deep-seated corruption that obstructs basic service delivery. For decades, these issues have made Seemanchal one of Bihar’s poorest and most vulnerable belts, with nearly 80 percent of its population still living in rural, underdeveloped pockets.
To reinforce his commitment to the region, Owaisi unveiled a strict accountability mechanism for AIMIM’s newly elected legislators. He announced that each MLA would be required to sit at their constituency office twice every week to meet local residents, hear grievances and monitor local administration. Additionally, the MLAs must send him real-time photographs and their live WhatsApp location during these sessions. According to Owaisi, this measure is meant to ensure transparency, prevent absenteeism and build direct channels of communication between elected representatives and their constituents.
The AIMIM chief also made it clear that he intends to personally supervise the functioning of the party’s Seemanchal unit. He said he would try to visit the region at least once every six months, both to assess developmental progress and to ensure that the MLAs are fulfilling their responsibilities. His message was unambiguous: the AIMIM’s presence in Seemanchal will be accompanied by a rigorous internal discipline that the party had lacked in previous terms.
By framing his conditional support to the state government around the demand that Seemanchal receive “justice,” Owaisi positioned himself as a vocal advocate for one of Bihar’s most marginalized regions. Whether the Nitish Kumar administration responds with substantive policy commitments remains to be seen, but the AIMIM chief has clearly placed Seemanchal at the centre of his political priorities for the upcoming term.
