AIMIM now eyes Mumbai, Thane

The AIMIM, which debuted in the 2014 Assembly elections with two of its members getting elected, sees itself as a strong player in Maharashtra politics.

Buoyed after winning 33 seats in the local body elections, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) now plans to score significantly in the BMC and Thane civic elections scheduled in February.

AIMIM leaders -- Asaduddin and Akbaruddin Owaisi -- are popular among the community. (HT file photo)

AIMIM legislator Waris Pathan said, “We will repeat this in other places also.” The party contested 108 seats.

The AIMIM, which debuted in the 2014 Assembly elections with two of its members getting elected, sees itself as a strong player in Maharashtra politics. Their leaders -- Asaduddin and Akbaruddin Owaisi -- are popular among the community.

According to political analysts, both the Congress and the NCP are responsible for the rise of AIMIM. “The Congress is seen to be ineffective, while NCP chief Sharad Pawar is seen to be cosying up with the ruling BJP. This has pushed Muslims towards AIMIM,” said political commentator Prakash Bal. “The biggest beneficiary in this would be BJP.”

“Despite being in politics for decades, the AIMIM never ventured out of Hyderabad. The BJP brought it to national level in recent years to cut secular votes,” said SP spokesperson Abdul Qadir Choudhry. The rise of AIMIM has hurt the SP as both command the same vote bank. “The only aim of the party is to indirectly help communal forces and hurt us,” said Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam.

BJP gets 51 civic chiefs in Maha, 893 elected representatives