UP: Will AIMIM’s decision to contest assembly polls benefit BJP?

Lucknow: There are only 2 Muslim political parties in the entire country, Muslim League and All India Majlis Ittihadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Hyderabad. While the Muslim League is content to be confined to Kerala politics, the AIMIM is gearing up to increase its footprint across the country.
AIMIM had succeeded in winning seats in municipal, assembly and even Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.  It also got its first success in Bihar Assembly election last year.  But it draws a total blank in the recently held Assembly election in West Bengal.
There is a perception that Muslims, unlike Dalits, Sikhs and other groups, should not form their community-specific political party.  If they do, then the Hindus would support any right-wing party en bloc which would then be detrimental to larger interests.
Owaisi has already announced that AIMIM will contest 100 of the total 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh as part of Bhagedari Sankalp Morcha (BSM) — an alliance led by former minister Om Prakash Rajbhar. This Morcha comprises nine various smaller parties. Elections are due to UP state Assembly in February 2022.
Asaduddin Owaisi the supremo of the AIMIM was trying to form alliances with the major political parties in UP like Samajwadi Party or Bahujan Samaj Party.  But no such alliance has been confirmed so far. With fear that such an alliance with AIMIM, would lead to communal polarization and Hindu voters could desert them.
There are many Muslims from Uttar Pradesh who feel that Owaisi should not contest the UP Assembly election as it would split their votes and benefit the BJP.  They allege that AIMIM’s plan to contest election in UP is part of a secret understanding between the party and the BJP to split Muslim votes.