Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, AIMIM national spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar has joined the Congress, marking a significant political development in the state. Waqar, considered one of AIMIM’s prominent faces in Uttar Pradesh, joined the Congress in Lucknow in the presence of UP Congress President Ajay Rai. Political observers believe the move could affect AIMIM’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the state before the upcoming elections.

Explaining his decision, Waqar said he felt that although AIMIM spoke about opposing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its political battles on the ground were often directed against parties such as the Congress and Samajwadi Party, which also oppose the BJP. He stated that those seeking to remove the BJP from power should unite under a platform that is actively challenging the ruling party, adding that this belief led him to join the Congress.

Syed Asim Waqar has been associated with AIMIM for nearly a decade and had previously spent around 20 years with the Samajwadi Party. His switch comes at a crucial time as political parties prepare for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. In the 2022 Assembly polls, Congress won only two seats, while AIMIM contested 95 seats but failed to secure a single victory. The latest development is expected to add a new dimension to the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh.