Asaduddin Owaisi, head of AIMIM, announced former state minister Babu Singh Kushwaha as the chief ministerial candidate of his party’s pre-election coalition “Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha” on Monday. In an electoral rally in Hasanpur, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president made the announcement while simultaneously unleashing a stinging assault on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
“If the Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha forms its government in UP, Babu Singh Kushwaha will be its first chief minister,” said Owaisi, who had earlier said that if his pre-poll alliance is voted to power, he will have two chief ministers in UP.
Owaisi, on the other hand, has not specified under what article of the Constitution he would have two chief ministers in the same state.
In his Hassanpur rally, he also promised three deputy chief ministers for the state.
“We have also decided that there will be three deputy chief ministers in UP of which one will be a Muslim and two others from the most backward section of the society,” he added.
On January 22, the AIMIM formed a pre-poll coalition called the ‘Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha’ with Kushwaha’s Jan Adhikar Party and the Backward and Minority Community Employees Federation, led by Waman Meshram, for the UP assembly elections.
Kushwaha, a minister in Mayawati’s cabinet, was appointed Morcha convener.
In an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he claimed to have the bravery to talk with Modi while looking him in the eyes.
“If the BJP is doing something wrong, I will raise my voice against it. This country was liberated by our ancestors. We got this country free with our blood. This country is mine and everyone else’s,” he asserted.
“But today when the BJP talks about changing the secular character of this country, Owaisi will look into the eyes of Modi and speak and he will continue to do so,” he said.
The Hyderabad MP also slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath, referring to him as “Baba” and claiming that he had just one answer to all problems: defeat the Mughals.
“If anyone thinks my voice will be suppressed for speaking against the UP chief minister, remember that as long as I am alive, I will keep speaking the truth. Your power will not suppress me,” said Owaisi.
He accused the Adityanath administration of inactivity, saying, “Baba’s government was there for five years but Baba did nothing.” If you discuss your troubles with Baba, he would simply respond, ‘O young man, you vote for us, we have to defeat the Mughals.”
“And the SP-BSP will say that you vote for us and defeat the BJP,” he said, adding: “They say the BJP wins only because of the Majlis entering into the electoral fray”.
Owaisi also poked fun at the chief minister’s alleged statements during the election campaign.
“Yogi Adityanath says he will create cold in May-June. Chief Minister, you should become a meteorologist. You (Yogi) say that you will remove the heat (garmi nikal denge), Are you a doctor of dysentery, is Baba selling Isabgol?” he asked.
“Listen to our message, Baba. The heat that Majlis has created in youths, will neither be reduced by your heat nor your cold. The heat we have created is on the foundation of truth, on the basis of reality to get respect and to gain our share. Even if I die, these people will go ahead with our message,” he asserted.
“I want freedom from radical forces. I want freedom from those parties who are fielding RSS candidates and are telling me that you do slavery. I want brotherhood so we have formed the morcha,” the AIMIM chief said in his rally.