Ahead of the mayoral lottery scheduled for Thursday, Sanjay Nirupam, a senior leader of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, has accused an "international conspiracy" behind the recent municipal corporation poll results.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Nirupam alleged that a strategic consolidation of Muslim voters, which he referred to as "Muslim Islands," was aimed at undermining the ruling Mahayuti alliance. His comments primarily focused on Mumbra, where AIMIM, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, won six seats. Nirupam sharply criticized the party’s efforts, claiming they posed a challenge to the state’s security and warning that such moves could jeopardize their future electoral prospects.
Responding swiftly, AIMIM corporator Sahar Yunus Shaikh rejected the communal undertones of the allegations. She stated that "painting Mumbra green" referred to the party’s work and identity, not religion, adding that if their color were saffron, the slogan would have reflected that instead.
Nirupam further alleged that in 17 Mumbai wards, Mahayuti candidates lost due to unanimous voting by Muslim-majority pockets. He also raised concerns over winners in Nagpur and Malegaon, including members with alleged criminal links, and called for special voter profiling by the Mumbai and Maharashtra Police.
In another jab, Nirupam criticized the Thackeray family for opposing the proposed Bihar Bhavan in Navi Mumbai, accusing them of disregarding their Magadh roots. He emphasized that while Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS focus on regional divides, the Mahayuti remains committed to the city’s development.
With tensions rising and political rhetoric heating up, the upcoming mayoral lottery is expected to be a decisive moment, shifting the spotlight from local governance to communal and regional identity politics in Maharashtra.
