The Maharashtra civic election results marked a strong performance for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which captured control of several key municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). However, alongside the BJP’s dominance and the decline of traditional power centres led by the Thackeray and Pawar families, one party stood out for its rapid growth: the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.
AIMIM registered its best-ever performance in Maharashtra’s civic elections, winning 114 wards across 10 municipal corporations, including the BMC. In the previous municipal elections, the party had secured only 56 wards, making this result a doubling of its earlier tally. With this surge, AIMIM moved ahead of established parties such as the Samajwadi Party, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in several urban pockets.
The party contested selectively in the civic polls, which were held in 24 of the state’s 29 municipal corporations on January 15. Its campaign unfolded amid internal challenges, including disagreements over ticket distribution and the resignation of some senior leaders following decisions taken by Maharashtra unit president and former MP Syed Imtiaz Jaleel. Despite these issues, AIMIM mounted an aggressive campaign across key urban centres.
Party chief Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, the Telangana Assembly floor leader of AIMIM, addressed multiple rallies and public meetings across the state. Their efforts paid dividends, particularly in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, long considered a stronghold of the party.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, AIMIM won 33 of the 115 wards, emerging as the second-largest party after the BJP. In several wards, the party outpolled both factions allied with the Shiv Sena, positioning itself as the principal opposition force in the corporation.
Beyond Sambhajinagar, AIMIM posted notable gains in other cities. It won 21 wards in Malegaon, 15 in Amravati, 13 in Nanded, 10 in Dhule, 8 in Solapur, 5 in Thane, 2 in Jalgaon, and one ward in Chandrapur.
The party’s performance in Mumbai drew particular attention. AIMIM won eight wards in the BMC, compared to just two seats in the 2017 elections, marking a four-fold increase. This result underscores the party’s growing footprint in Maharashtra’s most politically significant municipal body.
Overall, the civic poll outcome has strengthened AIMIM’s vote base in Marathwada and parts of western Maharashtra, while also signalling its gradual expansion into metropolitan regions such as Mumbai and Thane. By defeating Congress and NCP candidates in several minority-dominated areas, AIMIM has demonstrated its rising influence and positioned itself as an emerging challenger to established political forces in the state.
