AIMIM Defies Internal Turmoil, Posts Strong Gains in Maharashtra Civic Polls
The All-India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has delivered a surprising electoral performance in Maharashtra's recent civic polls. The party achieved this success despite facing significant internal challenges and public criticism.
Overcoming Internal Dissent
AIMIM entered these elections amidst considerable internal turmoil. Party state president Syed Imtiaz Jaleel faced sharp criticism for his decisions regarding ticket distribution. The situation grew so tense that key office bearers resigned in protest against his choices.
Jaleel made the controversial decision to drop 21 of the 24 councillors who had won in the 2015 elections from Sambhajinagar. This move sparked dramatic protests from disgruntled politicians. The situation required intervention from AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother, MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi.
Impressive Electoral Performance
Despite these challenges, AIMIM significantly improved its electoral performance across Maharashtra. In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, the party won 33 seats. This marked a clear improvement from the 2015 municipal elections when AIMIM had secured only 24 seats in the same corporation.
The party's success extended well beyond Sambhajinagar. Across Maharashtra, AIMIM secured a total of 126 seats in various municipal corporations. The party registered gains in multiple urban pockets throughout the state.
Statewide Gains
AIMIM's performance showed remarkable breadth across Maharashtra's urban centers:
- 21 seats in Malegaon
- 14 seats in Nanded Waghala
- 12 seats in Amravati
- 10 seats in Dhule
- 8 seats in Solapur
- 8 seats in Mumbai
- 6 seats in Nagpur
- 3 seats in Akola
- 2 seats each in Ahilyanagar and Jalna
- 5 seats in Thane
Breaking Perceptions
Reacting to the election results, Syed Imtiaz Jaleel emphasized that the verdict had dispelled long-held misconceptions about his party. "The results broke the misconception that AIMIM is an 'only Muslim' political party," he stated.
Jaleel pointed out that Hindu, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe community candidates were elected on AIMIM tickets. He cited the example of Gulmandi ward in Sambhajinagar, traditionally considered a Shiv Sena-BJP stronghold. Remarkably, two of the four winning candidates in that ward represented AIMIM.
Political Approach in Civic Bodies
Jaleel also outlined the party's intended approach in the civic bodies. He stated that AIMIM would support the BJP on initiatives that benefit citizens. However, the party would firmly oppose decisions that go against public interest.
Congress Suffers Major Setback
The election results proved disastrous for the Congress party in Sambhajinagar. The party suffered a near-total wipeout, losing 70 of the 71 seats it contested. The lone Congress winner was Maleka Habib Qureshi, who managed to retain her seat after a tough contest against an AIMIM candidate.
This represented a dramatic decline for Congress, which had won 11 seats in the 2015 elections. Political observers are crediting the disastrous results to poor planning and the party's failure to present itself as a viable alternative to communal polarization.
The AIMIM's performance assumes added significance given the internal challenges the party overcame. Despite ticket-related rebellions and resignations of key office bearers, the party managed to expand its presence across Maharashtra's urban landscape.
