Akhtarul Iman
Akhtarul Iman is an Indian politician from the state of Bihar. He is an elected legislator in the 17th Bihar Legislative Assembly, representing the Amour constituency. He is also the state president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party.[2]
Akhtarul Iman | |
---|---|
Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly | |
Assumed office 2020 | |
Preceded by | Abdul Zalil Mastan |
Constituency | Amour |
Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly | |
In office 2005–2014 | |
Succeeded by | Mujahid Alam |
Constituency | Kochadhaman |
Personal details | |
Nationality | Indian |
Political party | All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen |
Other political affiliations | |
Parents | A Rashid[1] |
Residence | Kishanganj[1] |
Alma mater | Magadh University (M.A.)[1] |
Occupation | Politician |
Political career
Iman said that he entered politics when he was a student. In 1985, he started a campaign against burglars. Iman said that he started the campaign as "the police and administration were hand in glove" with them. In Bihar assembly election of 2005, he contested from Kochadhaman on a Rashtriya Janata Dal ticket and was elected. He also retained the seat in 2010.[3] In February 2013, when students were being made to do the yoga asana of Surya Namaskar (allegedly bowing down to Hindu sun God Surya), Iman said that the government was trying to implement the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (a Hindu right wing organization) ideology in the state.[4]
In 2014, he left Rashtriya Janata Dal and joined Janata Dal (United). He was made a candidate by his party to contest from the Kishanganj seat for the 2014 Indian general election. However on 15 April (10 days before the election) he withdrew in favour of Mohammad Asrarul Haque of the Indian National Congress citing that he did not want to split the Muslim vote as his goal was to defeat Bharatiya Janata Party.[5]
In August 2015, Iman joined Hyderabad based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and in November 2015, Iman was mas made a candidate for the party from the Kochadhaman seat in the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. In the rallies, the party workers hailed him as Sher-e-Bihar (Tiger of Bihar) and was projected as Bihar's Asaduddin Owaisi (the party's national chief). He said that if people of the Paswan and Yadav community (low caste Hindu communities) can have their own political parties, then Muslims should also have their own.[6] He was also the party's president for Bihar state.[7] However, he lost the election to Mujahid Alam of Janata Dal (United). Iman polled 37,000 votes compared to Alam's 56,000.[8] in Indian general election, 2019 Iman was made a candidate for the AIMIM from the Kishanganj seat. In a detailed interview with Maktoob Media, Bihar MIM chief and Kishanganj candidate demanded special status for Seemanchal.[9]
Iman became an MLA after securing victory from the Amour constituency in the 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly Election.[2]
References
- "Akhtarul Iman". My Neta. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- Menon, Aditya (10 November 2020). "Bihar Election Result: Owaisi's AIMIM Makes a Dent in Seemanchal". TheQuint. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- "Why Owaisi's point man, Akhtar-ul-Iman, in Bihar left RJD, JD(U) to join him". Indian Express. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- "Pandemonium in Bihar assembly over 'surya namakar'". Times of India. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- "JDU Kishanganj nominee Akhtarul Iman withdraws in support of Congress". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- "Ground zero: remote Kochadaman is a test case for Owaisi". Catch News. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- "AIMIM Names 6 Candidates for Bihar Elections". NDTV. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- "Bihar election result: Asaduddin Owaisi's right-wing pitch falls flat in Bihar – Times of India". 30 September 2017. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- Desk, Editorial (12 April 2019). "Bihar MIM chief and Kishanganj candidate Aktharul Iman demands special status for Seemanchal". Maktoob. Retrieved 28 November 2019.