In a sharp political attack, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has called upon voters to decisively oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allied parties in the upcoming civic elections in Maharashtra. He accused the ruling coalition of deliberately targeting the Waqf Board and its properties.
Owaisi's Rallying Cry Against the Ruling Alliance
Addressing a rally for the Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation elections, Owaisi singled out three key players: the BJP, the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. He urged the electorate to reject these parties at the ballot box. The veteran Hyderabad MP framed the upcoming polls as a crucial battle to protect the interests of the community against what he described as a sustained campaign.
The Core Allegation: Targeting Waqf Properties
The central thrust of Owaisi's speech was the allegation that the BJP and its partners are systematically targeting the Waqf Board. The Waqf Board is a significant institution managing Islamic religious and charitable properties across India. Owaisi did not elaborate on specific instances in his address but implied that the alliance's policies and actions pose a threat to the board's autonomy and assets. This message is aimed at consolidating Muslim votes and appealing to voters concerned about the protection of community institutions.
Election Date and Political Context
The appeal was made specifically for the Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation elections, which are scheduled for January 15, 2026. Nanded, a city with a substantial Muslim population and a major Sikh pilgrimage site, holds considerable political significance in Maharashtra's Marathwada region. Owaisi's AIMIM has been striving to expand its footprint beyond its stronghold in Hyderabad, and local body elections in areas like Nanded are critical to this strategy. By positioning the BJP-led alliance as an adversary of the Waqf Board, Owaisi is attempting to define the narrative for the urban local body polls.
The political landscape in Maharashtra remains complex, with the BJP governing the state in alliance with the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the NCP group led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Owaisi's direct call to vote against this tripartite combine adds another layer of contestation in the high-stakes civic polls, which are often seen as a barometer of public sentiment.
