Written by ….9911853902….Mutiur Rahman Aziz
In the intricate web of Indian politics, where the lines of alliance and opposition are constantly changing, sometimes such revelations come to light that shake the foundations of the entire system. Recently, former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, citing a sensational letter in a press conference, exposed the alleged secret agreement between senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi. Kejriwal showed a letter written by a senior Gujarat lawyer, Yatan Ojha, to the camera, claiming that the letter details a night meeting in 2015, in which the BJP planned to use the Owaisi brothers to create communal polarisation. This revelation is not only significant in the context of the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, but it also raises the question of whether Owaisi and his party are playing the role of the BJP’s ‘B team’? In this article, we will analyze the text in detail, highlighting its historical background, political implications and fact-checking. Arvind Kejriwal, while talking to the media, mentioned a senior Gujarat lawyer named Yatan Ojha, who is considered close to Amit Shah. Ojha has represented Amit Shah in several legal cases and is called Shah’s ‘right-hand man’. According to Kejriwal, Ojha wrote him a letter a few days ago, detailing the details of a secret meeting held at Amit Shah’s house at 3 am on September 15, 2015. Amit Shah, Akbaruddin Owaisi and Yatan Ojha himself were present in the meeting. According to the letter, Amit Shah asked Akbaruddin Owaisi to field candidates in Muslim-majority areas in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Moreover, the Owaisi brothers will have to deliver speeches as per the script prepared by the BJP, which is aimed at breaking the Hindu-Muslim unity, sowing the seeds of communalism and creating an atmosphere of hatred. Kejriwal, showing the letter to the camera, said that the document has gone viral on social media and if the things stated in it turn out to be true, it is extremely dangerous for the country’s politics. He clarified that he is not confirming the authenticity of the letter, but if it is true, it indicates a well-thought-out strategy by the BJP.
In my opinion, the truth of what Yatan Ojha wrote can be gauged from the historical pattern of AIMIM activities. Before 2014, the political interest of AIMIM and the Owaisi brothers was mainly limited to Hyderabad and Telangana. Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi did not show interest in electoral politics in other parts of the country or travel there. The party focused only on local issues and strengthening the Muslim vote bank. But the situation changed after the BJP’s landslide victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. As soon as the BJP started gaining power at the central level and in various states, Owaisi and the AIMIM became active in Muslim-majority areas. The first major example of this was the Bihar 2015 elections, where the party fielded candidates on several seats. This pattern was repeated in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other states. As the election campaign days approach, Owaisi is the first to reach those states where Muslim voters can play a decisive role. It is claimed that this change is not accidental but part of a planned strategy. The BJP uses Owaisi to heat up the atmosphere, which polarises Hindu voters in favour of the BJP while dividing Muslim votes.
Critics say that in the states where Owaisi goes, secular candidates lose and this loss is because of Owaisi. Looking at the figures, AIMIM candidates usually get a few thousand votes, but these same votes make the difference between victory and defeat for a candidate from a secular party (such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party or RJD). For example: Bihar 2015: AIMIM lost votes in Muslim-majority seats, hurting the grand alliance, even though the BJP lost. Uttar Pradesh 2022: Owaisi’s presence in several seats split the Samajwadi Party’s votes. West Bengal 2021: AIMIM’s entry in Muslim areas benefited the TMC, but overall communal tensions increased.
This pattern shows that Owaisi’s party is playing the role of the BJP’s ‘B team’, which weakens the secular alliance. In my opinion, it is based on fact and has been called out by several political observers. Although Kejriwal has not confirmed the authenticity of the letter, its virality on social media has sparked a debate. Yatan Ojha is a real lawyer and his links with Amit Shah are well-known, but the authenticity of the letter has not been independently verified yet. The BJP has rejected it as fake, while the AIMIM has remained silent. However, the pattern of Owaisi’s election strategy is consistent with what the letter says. If it turns out to be true, it will be a new example of BJP’s communal politics.
In my opinion, the truth of what Yatan Ojha wrote can be gauged from the historical pattern of AIMIM activities. Before 2014, the political interest of AIMIM and the Owaisi brothers was mainly limited to Hyderabad and Telangana. Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi did not show interest in electoral politics in other parts of the country or travel there. The party focused only on local issues and strengthening the Muslim vote bank. But the situation changed after the BJP’s landslide victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. As soon as the BJP started gaining power at the central level and in various states, Owaisi and the AIMIM became active in Muslim-majority areas. The first major example of this was the Bihar 2015 elections, where the party fielded candidates on several seats. This pattern was repeated in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other states. As the election campaign days approach, Owaisi is the first to reach those states where Muslim voters can play a decisive role. It is claimed that this change is not accidental but part of a planned strategy. The BJP uses Owaisi to heat up the atmosphere, which polarises Hindu voters in favour of the BJP while dividing Muslim votes.
Critics say that in the states where Owaisi goes, secular candidates lose and this loss is because of Owaisi. Looking at the figures, AIMIM candidates usually get a few thousand votes, but these same votes make the difference between victory and defeat for a candidate from a secular party (such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party or RJD). For example: Bihar 2015: AIMIM lost votes in Muslim-majority seats, hurting the grand alliance, even though the BJP lost. Uttar Pradesh 2022: Owaisi’s presence in several seats split the Samajwadi Party’s votes. West Bengal 2021: AIMIM’s entry in Muslim areas benefited the TMC, but overall communal tensions increased.
This pattern shows that Owaisi’s party is playing the role of the BJP’s ‘B team’, which weakens the secular alliance. In my opinion, it is based on fact and has been called out by several political observers. Although Kejriwal has not confirmed the authenticity of the letter, its virality on social media has sparked a debate. Yatan Ojha is a real lawyer and his links with Amit Shah are well-known, but the authenticity of the letter has not been independently verified yet. The BJP has rejected it as fake, while the AIMIM has remained silent. However, the pattern of Owaisi’s election strategy is consistent with what the letter says. If it turns out to be true, it will be a new example of BJP’s communal politics.
