AIMIM establishes roots in richest corporation

Mumbai: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has successfully pulled off its debut in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, after bagging three of the 227 seats in the civic body. Faring very well for a first timer in a city that is dominated by the likes of Shiv Sena and the BJP, the AIMIM has vowed to keep fighting to make it big in Maharashtra.

The party has already made inroads in Mumbai and other areas of the state. It also enjoys presence in Aurangabad, and Nanded districts. However, the party leadership believes that it could have done better than this, only if other parties in the city had not conspired against it.

AIMIM spokesperson and MLA in Maharashtra, Waris Pathan said, “The Samajwadi Party, Congress and the NCP have conspired against AIMIM and stolen our voters. We did not win as many seats as anticipated, especially in areas of Byculla. I represent this area in the Vidhan Sabha.”

The AIMIM had fielded 59 candidates across Mumbai, of which about 11 were non-muslim candidates. Most candidates were fielded in Muslim dominated areas of Bandra, Kurla, Chembur, Govandi, Dharavi, Sion, Dongri, Bhendi Bazaar, and Nagpada in Byculla. It has won three seats from Bandra east, and Govandi. However, the party has lost its most obvious seats, including those of Dongri, Bhendi Bazar, and Byculla.

Mr Pathan said, “I am thankful to the people of Mumbai for voting for us, and trusting us. We will work very hard and come back with even more votes during the next elections. We won’t let another party connive against us.”

The party rigorously campaigned for over two months prior to the elections. Its president and member of parliament, Asaduddin Owaisi and vice-president Akbarrudin Owaisi held at least five public meetings personally, to woo the Muslim vote bank.