AIMIM to Contest 27 Seats in Maharashtra Civic Elections

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) plans to contest seats in 27 of the 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the pivotal city of Mumbai, during the upcoming civic polls scheduled for January 15, 2024. This announcement was made by AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel, who confirmed that the party is still finalising the exact number of seats it will target, with candidate names expected to be revealed by December 22 or 23.

In a statement made to a Marathi news channel in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jaleel, a former Lok Sabha MP, highlighted the party’s expanded organisational presence throughout the state. “We now have party units in almost every district. We will contest elections in 27 municipal corporations in Maharashtra,” he stated, underlining AIMIM’s commitment to making a significant impact in the upcoming elections.

Key Focus Areas for AIMIM

Jaleel noted that the party will concentrate its efforts in areas where it has established a strong base. He pointed out that Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar would be a critical focus, as AIMIM emerged as the largest opposition party in the city during the last civic term, winning more seats than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In addition to Sambhajinagar, AIMIM aims to contest seats in Nanded, Mumbai, Solapur, and various other municipal bodies.

Jaleel further clarified, “We may not contest all seats in every corporation, but we will definitely contest in most of them.” This strategic approach reflects the party’s intention to maximise its influence across Maharashtra’s urban landscape.

Potential Alliances and Voter Engagement

On the matter of alliances, Jaleel expressed that AIMIM is open to collaborations with like-minded parties, including the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), contingent upon a state-wide agreement. He mentioned that a constituent of the MVA had approached AIMIM for a pre-poll alliance, although he refrained from naming the party. The MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

In Mumbai, over one crore voters will determine the governance of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the next five years. The BMC recently published its final electoral rolls, revealing a total of 1,03,44,315 voters across all 227 wards of the city. The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) announced the election programme on the previous Monday.

The forthcoming elections are particularly significant as they will mark a direct contest between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition MVA for control of several key urban centres in Maharashtra. This election cycle in Mumbai is noteworthy, occurring almost nine years after the last civic polls in 2017. The term for BMC corporators concluded on March 7, 2022, leading to the civic body being administered by a state-appointed administrator since then.

As the elections approach, AIMIM’s strategy and potential alliances will be closely watched, as they may significantly influence the political landscape in Maharashtra’s urban areas.