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Malegaon votes for secularism

For the first time in the three corporation elections that the powerloom town of Malegaon has witnessed so far, Congress has gained an upper hand.

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For the first time in the three corporation elections that the powerloom town of Malegaon has witnessed so far, Congress has gained an upper hand. In fact, with a lead in 25 of the 80 seats in the Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) elections held on Sunday, the secular party appears to be headed for forming a rule in the predominantly Muslim town, albeit with help of some support.

The Congress’s journey to become the single-largest party is a long-winding one. While the first corporation tenure starting 2002 was grabbed by Nihal Ahmed-led Janta Dal, the second elections saw a new front in the Indian National Muslim Congress (more popular as Teesra Mahaz—third front) formed by religious leader Maula Mufti Ismail in wake of the discontent post-2006 blasts in the powerloom town. The MMC was formed in December 2001.
After garnering 27 seats in 2007, Teesra Mahaz had to take the help of 15 Congress seats to run the corporation for the first two-and-a-half years. But Mahaz founder Maulana Mufti Ismail’s decision to contest the assembly elections against Congress candidate Rashid Shaikh upset the equation, forcing the Mahaz to seek the Shiv Sena’s help to complete its term. No wonder the Mahaz paid the price aligning with a saffron partner in the latest polls, in whcih it was thrown back at 19 of the 65 seats it contested.

On the other hand, the Congress not only won the assembly seat with Rashid Sheikh as MLA, but also bettered its tally from 15 in 2007 to 25 in the Sunday’s polls, thus emerging as the single largest party. The NCP too gained on six seats from the two seats in 2007 to eight this time round.

While it was hoped that the Shiv Sena would do better, given that the corporation was extended to include Hindu-dominated areas of Saygaon, Naygaon, Daregaon and other adjoining suburban hamlets, the party only won at 11 seats. Though better than its last-time tally of seven seats, the Sena could have taken advantage of the new vote bank, but failed.

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