Owaisi will divide Muslim votes in Bihar and help BJP: Congress

Hyderabad: Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao on Sunday lashed out at All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi over his decision to contest the Bihar Assembly polls, saying that he would divide the Muslim votes and help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the electoral battle.

"We will fight elections as a secular party. Now, Asaduddin (Owaisi) is canvassing in Bihar, he contested even the Maharashtra elections. He says that that he wants to stop communal forces, but he is instead helping. He is going to divide Muslim votes and the BJP will gain from that. That is what he has been doing, he is helping the BJP. I appeal to the people of Bihar to not let such people enter their state," Rao told ANI.

Owaisi, who yesterday announced to contest the Bihar polls, said that his agenda would be overall development of the Seemanchal region.The term of the 243-member Bihar Assembly election comes to an end on November 29.

The polls in the state will begin on October 12 and end on November 5. Counting of votes will take place on November 8.