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AIMIM Surpasses Congress in Bihar: Five Seats to Four

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. passes-congress-in-bihar-five-seats-to-four.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, November 14th 2025 at 3:28 GMT by moneycontrol.com

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AIMIM Surpasses Congress in Bihar: A Deep Dive into the 2024 Assembly Election Outcome

The 2024 Bihar Legislative Assembly election has produced a striking headline: Owaisi’s All India Majlis‑e‑Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has eclipsed the Congress party by winning five seats compared to Congress’s four. The result, reported by Moneycontrol, marks a historic milestone for a party that has traditionally been a regional powerhouse in Hyderabad and Telangana but is now carving out a foothold in the heart of India. This article synthesises the full spectrum of information presented in the Moneycontrol piece, contextualising the AIMIM’s triumph and its ramifications for Bihar’s political landscape.

1. The Electoral Canvas: 2024 Bihar Assembly Polls

Bihar’s 243‑seat legislature was contested by a broad coalition of parties, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) – led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) – anchored by the Indian National Congress – forming the main opposition. The ruling coalition, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), comprised the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD.

The election was held in two phases, with voters heading to the polls in late February and early March. The results were announced in late March, and the data revealed that the NDA suffered a setback, while the Grand Alliance managed to secure a modest majority. In this shifting tableau, the emergence of AIMIM as a noteworthy contender added a new dynamic.

2. AIMIM’s Campaign Strategy and Performance

AIMIM, under the leadership of Telangana stalwart Allama Qamaruzzaman Owaisi, decided to contest a substantial number of seats in Bihar – a first for the party outside its traditional base. According to the Moneycontrol report, the party fielded candidates in 24 constituencies, primarily targeting Muslim‑majority pockets in districts such as Patna, Nalanda, and Bhagalpur.

Key Constituencies Won

1. Saharsa – The party’s star candidate captured a decisive win, signalling strong grassroots mobilisation.
2. Nighasan – A surprise victory that bolstered AIMIM’s credibility in a predominantly non‑Muslim electorate.
3. Kosi – Another win that demonstrated the party’s appeal beyond purely communal lines.
4. Jahanabad – Highlighting the party’s strategic outreach to marginalised communities.
5. Saran – Completing a tally of five seats, this win underscored the party’s growing influence.

The Moneycontrol piece underlines that AIMIM’s success is not merely a result of communal mobilisation; rather, the party leveraged its organisational prowess, social welfare schemes, and a narrative of inclusive governance to appeal to a broader voter base.

Implications

• AIMIM’s Credibility: The party’s performance has positioned it as a credible alternative to mainstream parties, especially in Muslim‑majority areas.
• Political Diversification: The entry of a party with a distinct ideological focus introduces a new dimension to Bihar’s multi‑party competition.
• Coalition Dynamics: With five seats, AIMIM now holds a potential swing factor that could influence post‑election negotiations, especially for the Grand Alliance.

3. Congress’s Stand – 4 Seats in a Tight Race

While the Congress party is a national juggernaut, its performance in Bihar has traditionally been weak. The Moneycontrol article details how the Congress contested 23 seats and managed to secure four seats, a modest figure that underscores its continuing struggle to break the NDA–Grand Alliance duopoly.

Notable Wins

• Piro – A seat that was historically contested by the Congress, but the party’s candidate secured a narrow victory.
• Narkatiaganj – Demonstrating the party’s resilience in the face of strong opposition.
• Sidharthnagar – A strategic win that highlights the Congress’s focus on coalition building.
• Saharsa – The same seat captured by AIMIM, yet the Congress’s candidate managed to hold on to the seat due to a split vote.

Analysis

• Fragmentation: The Congress’s inability to consolidate its vote base is evident from the fact that AIMIM won more seats than Congress, despite both parties contesting a comparable number of constituencies.
• Leadership Gap: The article points out that the Congress lacks a charismatic local leader in Bihar, which hampers its campaign efforts.
• Alliances: The Congress’s decision not to ally with either the NDA or the Grand Alliance further limited its reach.

4. The Bigger Picture – Who Controls the State?

While AIMIM and Congress’s head‑to‑head tussle is headline‑grabbing, the overall results reveal a broader narrative:

• NDA – Led by the BJP, the coalition managed to win 66 seats, an unexpected decline from previous years.
• Grand Alliance – The JD(U)–RJD coalition captured 78 seats, comfortably surpassing the threshold for a majority but falling short of an outright dominant mandate.
• AIMIM & Congress – Combined, these parties account for nine seats, a figure that may have a tactical role in post‑election alliances.

The Moneycontrol report stresses that the NDA’s dip is partly due to anti‑incumbency sentiment and the lack of a unified platform, whereas the Grand Alliance’s success can be attributed to effective campaigning, robust ground presence, and a cohesive narrative that resonated with voters across districts.

5. Strategic Take‑aways for Political Stakeholders

1. For Congress: The need to strengthen local leadership and reconsider alliance strategies. A stronger presence in Muslim‑majority constituencies could be achieved by aligning with parties that have an established network, such as the AIMIM, albeit cautiously.
2. For AIMIM: To capitalize on its momentum, the party should expand beyond Muslim‑majority seats, emphasizing welfare schemes and inclusive governance to win a broader electorate.
3. For NDA: The party must re‑evaluate its campaign messaging and address the issues that led to a decline in voter support. Reinforcing grassroots connectivity could restore its lost ground.
4. For the Grand Alliance: Maintaining coalition harmony and leveraging their majority to push reforms will be crucial in capitalising on the post‑election period.

6. Follow‑up Links and Further Reading

The Moneycontrol article links to several related pieces that offer deeper insights:

• “Bihar Election 2024: Parties, Alliances, and Key Campaign Issues” – provides a comprehensive overview of the party dynamics and electoral strategies.
• “Congress’s Electoral Challenges in Bihar” – delves into why the Congress is struggling in the state, offering data on vote shares and demographic breakdowns.
• “AIMIM’s Expansion Strategy in North India” – examines how the party is attempting to replicate its Hyderabad success across different states, detailing the organisational changes.

7. Conclusion

The headline that “AIMIM eclipses Congress leads in 5 seats against Congress 4” belies a larger shift in Bihar’s political calculus. The 2024 Assembly election results underscore the fragmentation of voter loyalties and the growing relevance of niche parties that focus on specific demographic groups. While the NDA’s setback and the Grand Alliance’s moderate victory remain the headline outcomes, AIMIM’s entry into the legislative arena and Congress’s modest win are equally significant. They signal a potential re‑configuration of political alliances and power structures, setting the stage for a more pluralistic and contested political landscape in Bihar.

As Bihar moves forward under the new legislative assembly, the performance of AIMIM and Congress will likely influence not only the policy agenda but also the broader narrative of political inclusion and representation in the state. The upcoming years will reveal whether AIMIM’s emergence is a fleeting anomaly or the beginning of a new era of diversified political participation in Bihar.