Former AIMIM spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar joins Congress; targets Owaisi-led party

Syed Asim Waqar, former spokesperson of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), joined the Congress on Wednesday (September 2, 2026), alleging that the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party paid lip service to the objective of defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while fighting the Opposition parties on the ground.

Mr. Waqar joined the Congress at the party headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Rajendra Pal Gautam, State Congress president Ajay Rai and AICC Minority Department chairman Imran Pratapgarhi.

Explaining his decision, Mr. Waqar said his years in the AIMIM had convinced him that a party seeking to remove the BJP from power could not simultaneously weaken those fighting the ruling party.

“We say that the BJP must be removed, but on the ground we do not fight the BJP. We fight the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and every other force seeking to remove the BJP,” he said.

“If we keep fighting the Opposition and do not allow it to grow, then we are helping the BJP,” Mr. Waqar said, adding that “if we are fighting the enemies of the BJP, then we are friends of the BJP”.

He said the Congress and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi were leading the fight against the BJP at the national level. Mr. Gautam said Mr. Waqar’s decision reflected the growing appeal of the Congress’s campaign on issues of education, employment, women and marginalised sections.

Mr. Rai said Mr. Waqar’s induction would strengthen the Congress in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.

A prominent AIMIM voice in Uttar Pradesh and considered close to Mr. Owaisi, Mr. Waqar’s exit comes as the AIMIM seeks to expand its political footprint in the State.

The Assembly election is due early next year, with the BJP likely to face a joint challenge from the Samajwadi Party and the Congress.