‘Miyas’ will be game-changers in Assam election, says AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday (April 2, 2026) said that the “Miya” Muslims will be the game-changers in the April 9 elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly.

Addressing a rally for the minority-based All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) at Laharighat in central Assam’s Morigaon district, he said he foresaw a “community tsunami” in favour of the party-led by perfume baron and former MP, Mohammed Badruddin Ajmal.

“I can see all Miyas uniting to change everyone’s game. They will be the game-changers on April 9 by voting for lock and key (AIUDF symbol),” he told the crowd, asking them to vote out Asif Mohammed Nazar, the Congress candidate, from the constituency.

“Miya” is a pejorative for Bengali-speaking or Bengal-origin Muslims in Assam. They are often branded as Bangladeshi or “illegal immigrants”.

He slammed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for threatening to break the backbone of the Miyas. “The world will survive as long as the Miyas live, and we are not the ones to fear anyone,” he said.

He also advised the Muslims to remember how the leaders of the Raijor Dal (Sibsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi) and the Assam Jatiya Parishad (Lurinjyoti Gogoi) played a key role in “getting the names of 20 lakh Muslims deleted” from the updated draft of the National Register of Citizens published in August 2019.

Owaisi slams Himanta

Earlier, Mr. Owaisi criticised Mr. Sarma for unleashing the “politics of hatred” in the State. He also blamed the Congress for the rise of the “divisive” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam and for failing to counter the saffron party effectively.

He said Mr. Sarma was misusing a constitutional post and damaging the State’s secular fabric. “The Chief Minister is displaying hatred towards Muslims. More than 50,000 houses belonging to Muslims have been demolished, leaving many families homeless,” he said.

“Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP have become powerful because the Congress failed to stop them. It is necessary to support the AIUDF and Badruddin Ajmal to protect the constitutional rights of the people affected by the politics of hatred and ensure that they live a dignified life,” Mr. Owaisi said.

He dismissed the theory that the AIUDF was fading from Assam’s political landscape and was contesting Muslim-dominated constituencies to erode the votes of the Congress and other anti-BJP parties. He asserted that the AIUDF was a collective political asset, belonging not to any individual but to the poor and marginalised sections of society.

Mr. Owaisi is scheduled to address at least eight rallies in support of AIUDF candidates during his two-day visit to the State.