AIMIM Makes Major Gains in Maharashtra Civic Elections
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has achieved a significant electoral breakthrough in Maharashtra. Led by Asaduddin Owaisi, the party nearly doubled its corporator strength in the latest round of municipal corporation elections. This expansion marks a substantial increase in the party's urban footprint across the state.
Substantial Seat Increase Across Multiple Corporations
According to early trends and final tallies, AIMIM secured approximately 114 corporator seats across 12 of the 29 municipal corporations where it contested. This represents a steep rise from the around 48 seats the party had won in previous civic elections. The performance demonstrates remarkable growth in just one electoral cycle.
The party recorded its strongest performance in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where it won 33 seats. This victory establishes AIMIM as one of the major players in that civic body. Other strong results include:
- Malegaon: 21 seats
- Nanded: 13 seats
- Amravati: 11 seats
- Dhule: 10 seats
- Solapur: 8 seats
Smaller But Significant Gains in Key Areas
AIMIM also made smaller but politically significant gains in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The party secured five seats each in Mumbai and Mumbra. Additional victories included three seats in Akola, two seats each in Ahmednagar and Jalna, and one seat in Parbhani.
Interestingly, AIMIM won more seats than both the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the NCP (SP) in these elections. This outcome highlights the party's growing influence in Maharashtra's political landscape.
Historical Context and Current Challenges
AIMIM first registered an electoral breakthrough in Maharashtra during the 2012 Nanded Municipal Corporation elections. At that time, the party won 11 seats in the 81-member civic body, marking its debut victory in a state outside Telangana.
The party's improved showing comes despite considerable internal turbulence within its Maharashtra unit. Days before polling, Mumbai unit president Farooq Shabdi resigned. State unit president Imtiaz Jaleel also faced threats over seat distribution, highlighting factional tensions during the election run-up.
AIMIM's rise has coincided with a weak showing by the Samajwadi Party, which had been targeting the same Muslim vote base in several urban centers. The contrasting performances suggest shifting political allegiances among minority voters in Maharashtra.
The party managed this expansion with a relatively subdued campaign compared to larger national parties. Their success indicates effective grassroots organization and resonance with specific voter demographics across multiple urban centers.
