Stopping BJP is not on me now: Asaduddin Owaisi

Hyderabad: The MIM drew a blank in the Uttar Pradesh elections but party president Asaduddin Owaisi said it would keep work harder in subsequent polls in the state.

Speaking to the media persons after the results were declared on Saturday, Mr Owaisi said: “I had said earlier that I didn’t go to UP only for the elections. I kept going for development and will keep going (to the state).”

The MIM chief said the results had busted the myth of the Muslim vote bank.
“Now people will understand that it’s not only our responsibility to stop the BJP. All the other so-called secular parties should understand the core issues and come forward to solve it rather than blaming it on me,” he said.

“If there was a Muslim vote bank, the socio-economic status of Muslims would have been better. I am sure that 80-90 per cent of Muslims haven't voted for the BJP in UP. Despite that, who could the BJP can win? Who has played a communal card now and who has supported the card," he asked.

"I was always blamed for being a spoiler. If I was a spoiler, how did the BJP lose in Chambal where my candidate was next to SP? I fought only in 35 seats and the BJP didn't win in those areas. The secular parties should introspect about their own work and think about the division of votes."

Asked about Congress leader Digvijay Singh raising question about EVMs, Mr Owaisi said: "Let's not talk about him because wherever he goes the party will keep losing. It was because of him that the Congress lost even in Telangana state."

On outgoing Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Mr Owaisi said, "If he fights with his own father, how can he attain victory?" He said Mr Yadav had to "pay" for law and order problems and communal violence.

On the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue, Mr Owaisi said the matter was with the Supreme Court and "we have to respect the court's decision."