ISLAM Party Rises to Power in Malegaon Civic Elections
Malegaon has once again demonstrated its political independence. The city's recent municipal corporation elections delivered a clear victory for a new political formation. This outcome sets Malegaon apart from most Maharashtra cities.
A New Political Force Emerges
The Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra, known as ISLAM, won thirty-five seats in the eighty-four member civic body. Former Congress MLA Shaikh Asif founded this party. Alongside its ally, the Samajwadi Party, which secured five seats, the alliance crossed the halfway mark.
This partnership will now install its mayor. Consequently, Malegaon becomes one of the few cities in Maharashtra where power rests outside both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.
Malegaon's Distinct Political Landscape
Muslims constitute nearly seventy-eight percent of Malegaon's population, compared to about eleven point five six percent statewide. This demographic gives the community a decisive role in local politics. Malegaon Central consistently elects a Muslim MLA, a rare occurrence in Maharashtra.
For decades, two influential families dominated politics here. Socialist leader Nihal Ahmed represented Malegaon five times as a Janata Dal MLA. Congress leader Shaikh Rasheed won the seat twice. Control alternated between these families despite shifting party loyalties.
The 2006 Malegaon blasts marked a turning point. Cleric Mufti Ismail entered electoral politics afterward. He won without established party backing in 2009, built a base through his Kaumi Mahaz platform, and secured the Malegaon Central seat for AIMIM in 2019.
Shaikh Asif's Political Journey
Shaikh Asif, son of the late Shaikh Rasheed, served as Malegaon's mayor before entering the Assembly in 2014 on a Congress ticket. He quit the Congress in 2022, citing differences with state leadership. After briefly aligning with the undivided NCP, he moved away following its split.
Ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections, Asif launched ISLAM. He positioned it as a response to what he described as repeated remarks targeting Islam in public discourse. "Since the BJP came to power, there has been a constant attack on Islam through statements. This party has been formed to respond to that," he announced.
Despite drawing attention, Asif failed to unseat Mufti Ismail in the Assembly elections. Another contender, Shan e Hind, daughter of Nihal Ahmed and now with the SP, polled around nine thousand votes.
Pragmatic Alliances Shape Civic Polls
Malegaon's politics has long featured pragmatic alliances across ideological lines. In 2017, the local Congress unit even backed the Shiv Sena for the mayor's post. Drawing on this tradition, Asif allied with the SP for the civic polls.
The strategy proved successful. ISLAM's thirty-five seats and the SP's five gave the alliance forty seats. While short of an absolute majority, this is enough to lead the corporation with outside support.
Other parties secured fewer seats:
- AIMIM finished with twenty-one seats
- Shiv Sena secured eighteen seats
- BJP managed just two seats
With indications that the Congress's three corporators may back Asif, ISLAM is poised to control the mayoralty. "We are a secular front which has won forty seats. We are a secular party and three of our corporators are Hindus. We are committed to working for all communities and all sections of society," Asif stated.
Continuity Within Change
While ISLAM's rise draws statewide attention, local observers note it represents continuity as much as change. The previous Malegaon Municipal Corporation was dominated by Asif's family. His father and mother served as the last two mayors in the outgoing body.
"This is not really a new political force. These are established political families who know the city well. It is more a case of old players in a new political outfit," a local activist commented.
The election results underscore Malegaon's unique political trajectory. A new party built on established networks now leads the city's civic administration.
