A
new entrant is ready to join political bandwagon in Navi Mumabai. With only a
couple of months left for NMMC elections, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has all
but decided to contest civic polls.
The Hyderabad-based party made its
Maharashtra debut in Vidhan sabha elections last year, as two of its candidates
got elected to the state legislative assembly. MIM legislator from Byculla
Waris Pathan has now been appointed to look after party’s poll prospects in
Navi Mumbai. He says that the decision will be made in 3-4 days after consultation with party chief.
MIM’s
main poll plank will be the uplifment of large swathes of minority population
living in the city. Pathan asserts
that minorities have become fed up with the so-called secular parties. He added
that Congress, NCP and Samajwadi Party has been using minorities as mere
votebanks
Sensing
NCP’s loosening grip on power, MIM has reportedly started the ground work in
city. Handful of party activists are said to be identifying local issues and evaluating
party’s prospects here.
MIM ‘s
entry in Navi Mumbai is sure to alter political equations especially in Muslim-dominated
areas. Pathan is confident of winning at least 2 to 3 seats in upcoming
elections.
Perhaps,
it is too early to say if MIM will have any real impact on Navi Mumbai
politics. It might even end up dividing Muslim votes and strengthen BJP and
Shiv Sena. Nevertheless, minorities of city will have an additional option when
they go to polling booth after 2 months.
