With victories in two Assembly constituencies, the AIMIM could not increase its tally in Maharashtra – maintaining the same number they had won in the 2014 Assembly polls. However, the party

had its first successful foray into Bihar, winning the Assembly bypoll in Kishanganj. Speaking to THE QUINT, AIMIM Maharashtra chief and Aurangabad MP Imtiaz Jaleel expressed disappointment

with the results, and also said that it would have been better for both parties had the alliance with Prakash Ambedkar’s VBA stayed intact. The following are excerpts from the conversation.