MIM debuts in UP bypolls

Lucknow: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)  will make its foray in Uttar Pradesh even before the Assembly elections in 2017. The AIMIM will be contesting two by-elections  that are to be held after the Bihar elections.

The two Assembly seats where by-elections are to be held include Bikapur in Faizabad that fell vacant after the death of senior MLA Mitrasen Yadav and Muzaffarnagar Assembly seat where the death of UP minister Chittaranjan Swarup has left the seat vacant.

AIMIM state convener Shauqat Ali said that the party had decided to contest the by-elections in UP and preparations for the same had also begun.

“Our party president Asaduddin Owaisi has decided to field candidates for in by-polls which will be held for the two Assembly seats and he will start the campaign on these seats after the Bihar elections when dates for the by polls are announced,” he said.

The AIMIM presence in Bikapur and Muzaffarnagar could upset calculations for the ruling SP because both seats have a sizeable Muslim population.