Malegaon, one of the vital politically distinctive cities in Maharashtra, has as soon as once more charted its personal course. Within the not too long ago concluded Municipal Company elections, town gave a transparent verdict in favor of a brand new political group, Islam, fielded by former Congress MLA Shaikh Asif, rising as the only largest celebration among the many 84 councilors.
Islamia (quick for Indian Secular Largest Congress in Maharashtra) gained 35 seats, crossing the midway mark with its ally Samajwadi Celebration securing 5 seats. The alliance is now planning to put in a mayor, making Malegaon one of many few cities within the state the place energy resides outdoors each the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.
A metropolis formed by minority politics
Muslims make up 11.56% of the inhabitants in Maharashtra, however in Malegaon, that quantity rises to almost 78%, and the neighborhood performs a decisive function within the metropolis’s politics. Malegaon Central is without doubt one of the uncommon meeting constituencies within the state that has constantly elected Muslim MLAs since independence.
For many years, politics right here has revolved round two highly effective households: socialist chief Nihal Ahmed, who represented Malegaon 5 instances as a Janata Dal MLA, and late Congress chief Sheikh Rashid, who gained the seat twice. Whilst celebration loyalties shifted, management of municipal and parliamentary politics alternated between these households.
This steadiness started to vary with the entry of cleric Mufti Ismail into electoral politics after the 2006 Malegaon blast. Mufti Ismail, who gained his first victory with out the assist of a longtime celebration in 2009, progressively constructed a base by his nationwide platform Qaumi Mahaz and gained the Malegaon Central seat of the All India Majlis-Ittehadul Muslimeen in 2019.
Why Sheikh Asif supported Islam
Shaikh Asif, the son of the late Sheikh Rasheed, grew to become a member of Parliament in 2014 after serving because the mayor of Malegaon. In 2022, he resigned from the Congress citing variations with the state management and briefly cooperated with the unsplit Nationwide Congress celebration earlier than leaving the celebration after the break up.
Mr. Asif launched Islamism forward of parliamentary elections in 2024, positioning it as a response to his repeated feedback focusing on Muslims in public. “Ever for the reason that BJP got here to energy, there have been fixed assaults on Islam by statements. This celebration has been fashioned to counter it,” the celebration mentioned on the time of its announcement.
Regardless of the eye his new celebration obtained, Asif was unable to oust Mufti Ismail in parliamentary elections. One other candidate, Nihal Ahmed’s daughter Shan-e-Hind, who’s presently with the Samajwadi Celebration (SP), obtained round 9,000 votes.
Citizen polls and practical alliances
Malegaon politics has lengthy been characterised by pragmatic alliances that minimize throughout ideological strains. In 2017, the native council unit collaborated with the Shiv Sena for the mayoral elections.
Capitalizing on this custom, Asif allied himself with the SP, as soon as a rival with ties to the Nihal Ahmed household, on the referendum. This technique labored fantastically. The Islamists’ 35 seats and the SP’s 5 seats gave the coalition 40 seats, wanting an absolute majority however sufficient to guide the group with outdoors assist.
AIMIM completed with 21 seats, Shiv Sena with 18 seats and BJP with simply two seats. Islam is poised to take management of the mayoral race, with three parliamentary companies indicating they might assist Asif.
“We’re a secular entrance that gained 40 seats. We’re a secular celebration and three members of the company are Hindus. We’re dedicated to working for all communities and all sections of society,” Asif mentioned.
New celebration, acquainted faces
Whereas the rise of Islam has garnered consideration throughout the state, native observers say it represents each change and continuity. Even the erstwhile Malegaon Municipal Company was managed by Asif’s household, together with his father and mom serving because the final two mayors of the outgoing physique.
“This isn’t actually a brand new political power. These are established political households who know town nicely. Quite, it’s an instance of an previous politician becoming a member of a brand new political group,” mentioned social activist Aleem Faizi.
