AIMIM enters Rajasthan fray

Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM is trying its luck in Rajasthan's bipolar polity, after queering the pitch for Congress elsewhere. The party has fielded candidates in Hawa Mahal, Kishanpole, Adarsh Nagar, Kaman, Kishangarh Bas, Baytoo, Makrana, Fatehpur, Gangapur City and Sawai Madhopur.

AIMIM Rajasthan president Jameel Khan told ET: "Assembly elections is a small beginning. We will fight local body elections over the next 2 years." Khan is the party candidate in Hawa Mahal.

Congress is perceived to be the 'sole claimant' of Muslim votes and AIMIM's presence may prove detrimental for it. In Hawa Mahal, for instance, Congress has fielded RR Tiwari against BJP's Mahant Balmukund Acharya. The perception is that Congress garnered the entire chunk of minority votes earlier and AIMIM and AAP are claimants too this time.