AIMIM is showing a strong performance in Bihar’s Seemanchal region, with early trends at 2 p.m. indicating leads in five Assembly constituencies.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the party is ahead in Jokihat (Araria), Kochadhaman (Kishanganj), Amour (Purnea), Baisi (Purnea), and Thakurganj (Kishanganj).
Four of these seats — Jokihat, Kochadhaman, Amour, and Baisi — were also secured by the party in the 2020 Assembly elections. The early indication is significant for AIMIM, which has been attempting to expand its footprint in Bihar.
After being left out of the INDIA bloc, party chief Asaduddin Owaisi had announced his intention to contest 100 seats in the state. However, on October 19, AIMIM formally released a list of 25 candidates, including two non-Muslims, marking an effort to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional support base.
In the previous election, AIMIM delivered a surprise outcome by winning five seats — all located in the Seemanchal belt: Amour, Baisi, Jokihat, Kochadhaman and Bahadurganj in Kishanganj. The region, comprising the districts of Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj and Purnea, has 24 Assembly constituencies and a substantial Muslim population, a demographic the party has relied on to retain its relevance in Bihar’s politics.
Following the 2020 results, four of Owaisi’s MLAs defected to the RJD, leaving only Akhtarul Iman of Amour with the party. Iman is once again leading from his constituency, reinforcing AIMIM’s foothold in its stronghold.
By 1:30 p.m., the NDA was leading in 197 constituencies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was ahead in 91 seats, while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) led in 81. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)] held leads in 21 constituencies and the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) in four.
The Mahagathbandhan was ahead in 36 seats. Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) led in 27, while its allies — the Congress and CPI(ML) Liberation — were leading in four seats each.