Azad, Owaisi join hands for UP polls; Chandra Shekhar named CM face of Samajik Parivartan Morcha

The Chandra Shekhar Aazad-led Azad Samaj Party-Kanshi Ram and Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Thursday announced an alliance, 'Samajik Parivartan Morcha', for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with Aazad being declared its Chief Ministerial candidate.

Addressing a press conference, Aazad sought to dismiss speculation about the formation of a 'Third Front', saying the alliance would instead be known as the 'Samajik Parivartan Morcha'.

"Since yesterday, there has been a lot of speculation about a 'Third Front'. Let me clarify: this is not a 'Third Front', it is a 'Samajik Parivartan Morcha'. In fact, it is not the 'third' at all; this is, in reality, the 'First Front'," he said.

Describing the alliance as a strong political platform, Aazad said it would become an "even more powerful platform for those who are oppressed, helpless, victimised, and exploited".

Taking an indirect swipe at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he alleged that communities without political representation continued to face atrocities despite forming a significant section of the state's population.

"Those who don't have political power (in Uttar Pradesh), even if they form a major section of the population, are being subjected to atrocities; encounters and bulldozers are being used to bring down their houses," he said.

Aazad also criticised successive governments for failing to improve the condition of the Bahujan community, alleging that promises to bring marginalised sections into the mainstream had not translated into better access to basic facilities.

"Those who had promised to bring the marginalised to the mainstream, despite being elevated as MLA, MP, Chief Minister and Prime Minister, have not done anything for this section. The governments kept changing and even made several announcements, but even today the 'Bahujan Samaj' is far from receiving the basic facilities, including better schools and hospitals," he said.

The Lok Sabha MP also raised the issue of unemployment, saying educated young people were struggling to find jobs despite their families making significant sacrifices to support their education.

"Parents who struggled against the system, often taking on debt, to educate and raise their children now see those very educated young people suffering the brunt of unemployment. There is no one to look after them. And if anyone dares to raise their voice or fight for their rights, they are met with the government's heavy-handedness, facing legal cases and police batons," he said.

Referring to the Yogi government's directive on the eligibility of individuals associated with organisations advocating violent changes to the existing social system for government appointments, Aazad said, "The truth is, we are denied justice both in life and in death."

He also criticised the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, questioning their repeated promises to defeat the BJP.

"Many promised to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party. We waited through 2014, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024. Yet, the BJP has not been removed; instead, it has only grown more powerful," he said, adding, "Therefore, we have now decided to stop getting humiliated."

Speaking at the press conference, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi described the alliance as a strong alternative in Uttar Pradesh and said it would work to prevent the BJP from returning to power for a third consecutive term.

"I can say with confidence that this will serve as a strong alternative in Uttar Pradesh, working to prevent the BJP from returning to power for a third term," Owaisi said.

He alleged that backward and oppressed communities had long been treated merely as vote banks, while unemployment and farmers' concerns remained unresolved.

"The communities that Chandra Shekhar Aazad and I belong to, along with all those from backward or oppressed sections, regardless of their caste, have historically been used merely as 'voters'. Youths have been left unemployed, and farmers' issues have also not been solved yet," he said.

Owaisi also formally announced Aazad as the alliance's Chief Ministerial face, expressing confidence that the partners would work together to secure electoral success.

"We will all work together to ensure not only the success of this alliance but also that the people of Uttar Pradesh benefit from its success. Any subsequent transformation will take place once Chandra Shekhar Aazad sahab becomes the Chief Minister, and we will fulfil all those commitments," he said.

(With IANS inputs)