In a significant political switch ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) national spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar joined the Congress on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, ending his nearly decade-long association with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party.
Waqar formally joined the Congress in New Delhi in the presence of AICC Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai and AICC Minority Department chairman Imran Pratapgarhi.
After changing parties, Waqar launched a sharp attack on AIMIM's political strategy. He alleged that while the party publicly speaks about defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its electoral approach ultimately hurts other opposition parties attempting to challenge the BJP.
These are Waqar's political allegations against his former party and should not be treated as independently established facts.
His departure nevertheless comes at an important moment for both parties as AIMIM attempts to expand its presence in Uttar Pradesh while Congress prepares for another major electoral contest in India's most populous state.
Waqar Joins Congress at Party Headquarters in Delhi
Waqar's induction took place at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
Senior Congress leaders present included Rajendra Pal Gautam, Ajay Rai and Imran Pratapgarhi, a Rajya Sabha MP who heads the Congress Minority Department.
Waqar had become one of AIMIM's prominent public faces, particularly through television debates and political commentary.
His move therefore involves more than the loss of an ordinary party worker for AIMIM. Congress is gaining a politician who has spent years publicly articulating AIMIM's positions and engaging in debates around Uttar Pradesh and national politics.
Why Asim Waqar Says He Left AIMIM
Waqar used his entry into Congress to openly question AIMIM's strategy under party chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
He said:
“I realised that AIMIM was fighting not so much against the BJP as against its political opponents, helping the BJP as its friend.”
Waqar further argued that opposition parties seeking to challenge the BJP should avoid fighting among themselves.
He said he was joining Congress because he believes it is leading the political fight against the BJP under Rahul Gandhi.
Waqar also said:
“All those whom Owaisi joined hands with were wiped out in elections.”
Again, these statements represent Waqar's assessment of AIMIM's political record and strategy. They should not be interpreted as proof of any formal arrangement between AIMIM and the BJP.
Waqar Calls for Opposition Unity Against BJP
The central theme of Waqar's explanation was opposition unity.
He argued that parties seeking to defeat the BJP should concentrate their efforts on that objective rather than competing aggressively against one another.
“Opposition parties should focus on defeating the BJP rather than fighting among themselves,” Waqar said.
He described Congress as being in the “driver's seat” in the wider opposition effort against the ruling party.
The remarks place Waqar's move within a broader strategic debate that has repeatedly emerged in Indian elections: whether smaller parties strengthen voter choice or fragment opposition votes in closely fought constituencies.
That question is political and constituency-specific, and the electoral impact of any party cannot automatically be reduced to benefiting one rival.
Nearly a Decade With AIMIM
Waqar's departure is notable because of his long association with AIMIM.
He had been associated with the Owaisi-led party for nearly a decade and served as its national spokesperson.
Before joining AIMIM, Waqar was associated with the Samajwadi Party for around two decades, giving him a lengthy political background in Uttar Pradesh.
His latest move therefore marks another significant change in his political affiliation.
His familiarity with Uttar Pradesh's political environment and his visibility as an AIMIM spokesperson could be useful to Congress as the party prepares its organisation and messaging for the coming state election.
Ajay Rai Welcomes Waqar to Congress
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai welcomed Waqar's entry and linked it to the party's preparations for 2027.
Rai said:
“Asim Waqar’s vision and thoughts are connected to the dream that our leader Rahul Gandhi envisioned for this country.”
He added:
“In 2027, the Congress flag will flutter in every village and every street of Uttar Pradesh.”
The remarks reflect Congress's effort to portray the induction as part of a broader organisational push rather than merely an individual defection.
Rajendra Pal Gautam also said the Congress-led political movement was focusing on issues including education, employment, students, women and marginalised sections.
Why Waqar's Exit Matters for AIMIM
Waqar's departure comes as AIMIM continues working to establish a larger electoral presence in Uttar Pradesh.
The party has contested previous elections in the state but has struggled to translate its campaigning into Assembly seats.
In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, AIMIM contested 96 of the state's 403 constituencies but did not win a seat.
That result demonstrated the scale of AIMIM's challenge in converting support and political visibility into constituency victories.
Waqar's departure potentially adds another difficulty because he was not only a national spokesperson but also a recognisable AIMIM voice in Uttar Pradesh.
How much electoral impact his switch actually produces, however, cannot yet be determined.
Congress Gains a Recognisable Muslim Political Voice
For Congress, Waqar's induction carries strategic value beyond the publicity surrounding a defection from AIMIM.
Waqar has years of experience communicating political positions on television and public platforms and has been particularly visible in debates involving Muslim political representation.
Congress has been seeking to strengthen its organisation in Uttar Pradesh, where the political contest involves not only the BJP but also powerful regional forces.
Bringing Waqar into the party gives Congress another experienced political communicator as campaigning for 2027 intensifies.
Whether his arrival translates into votes, organisational expansion or greater influence among particular voter groups will become clearer only during the election campaign.
What the Switch Means for Uttar Pradesh Politics
Waqar's move highlights a larger battle taking shape before the 2027 Assembly election.
AIMIM has been trying to build its own political space in Uttar Pradesh, including among Muslim voters, while Congress and other opposition parties are attempting to prevent fragmentation of the anti-BJP vote.
That creates an inherent strategic tension.
AIMIM maintains its right to contest elections independently and build its own political base. Critics of the party, including Waqar after his departure, argue that such contests can weaken larger opposition parties in some constituencies.
The actual impact depends on voting patterns, candidate strength, alliances and individual constituency margins.
AIMIM's 2027 UP Strategy Now Under Greater Focus
Waqar's exit is likely to increase attention on Asaduddin Owaisi's plans for Uttar Pradesh.
The party's failure to win a seat despite contesting 96 constituencies in 2022 means its performance in the next election will be closely watched.
Questions will include how many seats AIMIM contests, whether it builds alliances, which constituencies it prioritises and whether it can convert its public visibility into Assembly representation.
Waqar, meanwhile, will face a different test: demonstrating that his move to Congress provides him with greater political influence and electoral relevance than his previous role in AIMIM.
Political Switch Comes at a Critical Time
Syed Asim Waqar's move from AIMIM to Congress is significant primarily because of its timing.
With Uttar Pradesh heading toward Assembly elections in 2027, political parties are entering a period of organisational expansion, candidate positioning and alliance calculations.
For AIMIM, losing a national spokesperson and recognisable Uttar Pradesh face represents a setback at a time when it is trying to expand.
For Congress, Waqar's induction adds an experienced political communicator who has spent years engaging with issues central to Muslim and opposition politics.
But the broader electoral significance of the switch will depend on what follows: Waqar's role within Congress, AIMIM's response and strategy, opposition alliance calculations, and ultimately how voters respond when Uttar Pradesh goes to the polls.
