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Bandra (E) bypolls: AIMIM seeks to tap discontent among minorities

After its spectacular entry into Maharashtra politics, where the party notched up two wins in last year's assembly elections, the hardline AIMIM is seeking to kill many birds with a stone in the Bandra (East) by-polls.

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AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi
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After its spectacular entry into Maharashtra politics, where the party notched up two wins in last year's assembly elections, the hardline AIMIM is seeking to kill many birds with a stone in the Bandra (East) by-polls.

Win could boost chances for BMC polls
A win or a good showing in the by-polls, results of which will be declared on April 15, will widen its base, and help it reach out to social sections like Dalits. It would also boost the party's chances in the BMC elections due in early 2017 and serve as a morale booster in Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) polls scheduled on April 22.

Bull slaughter ban, scrapping of Muslim quota key targets
The AIMIM, which is led by Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi and his younger brother and firebrand Telangana MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, is aiming at asserting its position among the minorities, which it feels may be up for the taking because of the decline of the Congress. It plans to tap the anger in Muslims over the ban on slaughter of bulls and the BJP-Shiv Sena led state government's decision to scrap 5% quotas for Muslims.

The contenders
In the assembly elections, the AIMIM's Raja Rehbar Khan was at number three after victor Prakash (Bala) Sawant (Shiv Sena), whose death has necessitated the by-poll, and the BJP's Mahesh Parkar. This time, Khan, a former corporator, is pitted against Sawant's widow Trupti and former Congress minister Narayan Rane.

The constituency, which will vote on April 11, has a Muslim presence of around 30% of 2.62 lakh voters and a sizeable number of Dalits. The fight holds immense significance for the Sena due to party dissident Rane's presence and as Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree,' is located in the constituency.

Hoping for shift of votes like in Delhi polls
Waris Pathan, AIMIM MLA from Byculla, said he hoped that like in Delhi, where the Muslim vote is said to have shifted enbloc to the Aam Aadmi Party from Congress, it would shift to them in Maharashtra. He added that they were trying to forge social coalitions with Dalits with the slogan 'Jai Bhim (salutation for Babasaheb Ambedkar), Jai Meem (acronym for the AIMIM)'.

“We have a strong claim on the seat... this fight will help us everywhere as we are taking all political parties head on,” said AIMIM MLA from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel, claiming that anti-incumbency would see them through.

Importance of Aurangabad polls
A strong showing in Aurangabad holds symbolic value for the party. AIMIM has its roots in the ‘Razakars’ who supported the Nizam of Hyderabad and resisted the state's integration into India. Aurangabad was the centre of the Nizam's kingdom in Maharashtra, which also covered Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The AMC is presently controlled by the Shiv Sena and BJP.

“Moreover, we AIMIM MLAs have not been talking about communal politics but development issues,” said Jaleel.
However, Congress leaders insist that the Muslims will engage in tactical voting for them, while Sena-BJP leaders are banking on religious polarisation caused by AIMIM's presence to see Trupti through.

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