In the heat and dust of electioneering in the politically-crucial Hindi heartland, the big question is which way will the Muslim vote swing?

Another critical, and connected, question: Will Asaududin Owaisi emerge as the voice of this once-powerful group, which at one time encapsulated minorities, backward castes, and Dalits?

The questions have national significance considering that Uttar Pradesh and Bihar together command 120 parliamentary seats. The four-time MP from Hyderabad is challenging the national parties’ track-record on minorities, backward castes and Dalits.During an interaction, Owaisi, president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), said: “In UP and Bihar, the so-called secular parties are becoming like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). That is why there is no talk of political representation for Muslims or raising the issue of minority rights.”Speaking in his Urdu, Owaisi, dressed in a trademark sherwani, doesn’t shy away when confronted with the charges of being the 'B' team of the BJP, keen on splitting the Muslim vote."INDIA leaders, are constantly abusing us, calling us the 'B' or 'C' team, while they themselves are allying with the Shiv Sena. Many of their leaders and party candidates have been with the BJP at some time or the other," he counters."They are insulting us, and we have our self-respect and dignity to protect – izzat-e-nafz bhi to koi cheez hoti hai," he adds.In Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and home turf Telangana, AIMIM under Owaisi's leadership will be on a political overdrive in this election.While the AIMIM alliance in UP (with Apna Dal- Kamerawadi) and Tamil Nadu (with AIADMK) has been announced, more details are expected during a proposed mega rally on April 25th. The party has declared its support for Prakash Ambedkar in Akola and Anand Ambedkar in Amaravati in Maharashtra.