PURNEA/KISHANGANJ, Nov. 9 -- As one traverses through Seemanchal for feeling the pulse of the poll-bound region's politics, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) enters the discourse whether you are travelling in a bus, having a tea break at a roadside joint or conversing with the locals of various strata. It confirms that the party is in fray as a challenger, making the contest a triangular battle. But, there is also a perception that the enthusiasm for the party has withered significantly among the Muslims of the region and it may not make as significant impact as it did last time. The party created ripples in 2020 assembly polls by wining five seats. That is now a history, but the party has entered into the area, afresh with repeating the feat. It's energy remains intact, in fact it's campaign is characteristically aggressive. It's leaders -- local Akhtarul Iman and nationally famous Asaduddin Owaisi -- are on the ground to keep the tempo of candidates and local cadres high. On a road from Purnea to Amour (Iman is a candidate here), passengers give some clues. "Yes, AIMIM has made the electoral battle in Seemanchal triangular on at least on 8 seats, but what has given the party a worry this time is confusion among voters and promises being made by Grand Alliance (GA)," said Mohammad Ijharul who got off the bus at Baisi. Another passenger, Mohammad Iliyas, 35, said, "I don't see that much enthusiasm for AIMIM this time as it was in 2020 but I can't say that the AIMIM will lose in Amour." Iliyas added that AIMIM's Iman was a better orator than his rivals -- JD(U)'s Saba Zafar, Congress's Abdul Zalil Mastan. Of 14 candidates that the AIMIM has fielded in Seemanchal, Amour seems its best chance also it is hogging attention of state-level politicians and journalists as Iman, party' Bihar president and its most prominent face in Bihar, is in fray. Iman himself is confident of his success. "I am confident of an easy win as I have given the people their voice against their prolonged neglect in Seemanchal," Iman claimed and listed the development work done during his regime. Iman is known for his straightforwardness and widely praised for direct attack on his opponents and hence he is known as 'Junior Owaisi' in the area. Iman is locked in a battle of ballot with Congress veteran Abdul Zalil Mastan, a six-time MLA and two-time MLA Saba Zafar contesting on JD(U) ticket. "The triangular contest on the seat is going to give anyone an edge and anyone can win," a local Minhaz Alam, a Congress supporter, said while sharing his assessment of the ground situation. Baisi seat is adjoining Amour where non-Muslim leader has so far won only once in 2010 is locked in a triangular contest among RJD's six-time MLA Abdus Subhan in the fray against BJP's Vinod Yadav. AIMIM has fielded a seasoned leader Ghulam Sarwar and he has made the contest triangular. Amour and Baisi two assembly segments in Purnea district are minority (Muslim) dominated with about 70 per cent Muslims and hence since 1952 only two non Muslims one each from Baisi and Amour has succeeded in winning the seat. Baisi and Amour are twin constituencies of Purnea district and are parts of Kishanganj Parliamentary seat. Kishanganj is the most significant area for the AIMIM. A Muslim-rich city, it was here that the AIMIM opened its Bihar account by winning the 2019 assembly bypoll. Later, riding on the wave created by the anti-CAA protests, the party registered the 2020 success. It was though was deflated when four of its legislators deserted it to join the RJD. In 2020, the party had won five seats in three districts - two each in Kishanganj and Purnea and one in Araria. In Bahadurganj in Kishanganj district, for Maswar Alam Congress party candidate, AIMIM's candidate Tauseef Alam, four-time Congress Party MLA, has turned the electoral battle interesting. Anzar Nayeemi, who won the last election on AIMIM ticket defected to RJD but after he was denied party ticket this time, is supporting the AIMIM here openly. For Kochadhaman seat , the electoral contest is also triangular among RJD, BJP and AIMIM. The RJD has given ticket to Mujahid Alam, a JD(U) turncoat, the BJP has played the woman card by fielding Bina Devi and the AIMIM has fielded Sarwar Alam. Here too Muhammad Izhar Asfi, who won the seat on AIMIM ticket in 2020 and later switched to the RJD, was denied ticket and he is now supporting the AIMIM nominee. Kishanganj seat is also witnessing an interesting contest among the AIMIM turncoat Qamrul Hoda, contesting on Congress ticket, BJP's Sweety Singh and Shams Aghaz of the AIMIM. In an interesting twist, Jokihat is trapped in a four-cornered contest with two brothers Md Sarfaraz Alam and Shahnawaz Alam -- both sons of former minister Tasleemuddin -- contesting against each other on Jan Suraaj Party and RJD tickets respectively while JD(U) has fielded Manzar Alam and the AIMIM's candidate is Mohammad Murshid Alam. The multi-cornered contest has made the fight a watched-out for scrimmage. Overall, at least eight assembly seats in Seemanchal are locked in a triangular contest with AIMIM candidates posing a threat to the Grand Alliance. The AIMIM has fielded 14 candidates in Seemanchal consisting of 24 assembly seats. Asaduddin Owaisi who has been campaigning for his party candidates has so far succeeded in drawing a huge crowd by his aggressive speeches attacking both the GA and NDA leaders. "Most of the Muslim youths are staunch supporters of Owaisi because of his aggressive speeches and he (Owaisi) seems to mirror their concerns and emotiions," political observer Prof N K Srivasatava said, adding, "You can't now write off the AIMIM in Seemanchal and it has certainly made electoral fight triangular in most of seats they are contesting in Seemanchal." Seemanchal will go to poll on November 11....