New Delhi, Nov. 10 -- On a Monday morning in Bishanpur village of Kishanganj's Kochadhaman, Mohd Afzal brews tea for customers near Madrasa Mumbaul Uloom - the Islamic seminary that also serves as a polling booth.

Ask Afzal - who runs the tea shop on the highway - about the mahaul (mood) ahead of the upcoming elections, and his reply comes instantly - "Patang ka mahaul hai, sahab, (It's the kite's wave, sir)," hinting at a 'wave' for Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen or the AIMIM.

The Patang, or kite, is the election symbol of the AIMIM. "He was the only leader who tore up the NRC Bill in the House. He said, 'I love Mohammad.' Who else speaks like that? He is our leader," says Ashraf, who sips tea sitting on the ...