Imtiaz Jaleel’s resignation from AIMIM’s ticket distribution committee may affect the party’s preparations for by-elections.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) which had made a promising debut in Maharashtra by winning two seats in assembly polls seems to be losing the plot due to internal rift. The MIM too is going the AAP way by disappointing its followers who were looking forward for a bright future for the party across Maharashtra in the various municipal corporation elections by bringing unity and solidarity among the Muslim community.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Aurangabad’s AIMIM MLA Syed Imtiaz Jaleel has resigned from the party’s ticket distribution committee. This incident only indicates uncontrolled groupism, ego clashes and vested interests among AIMIM leaders and the party supremo Asaduddin Owaisi helplessness to restrain second rank leadership. The AIMIM’s rise in assembly election had benefitted the BJP and Sena as they could cash in on the split in secular votes which led to the downfall of Congress.
Jaleel, a former journalist, won from Aurangabad, while Waris Pathan won from Byculla in Mumbai. The party has appointed Mushtak Khan as observer for Aurangabad corporation election to be held on April 22.
It held a meeting to select candidates for Aurangabad election, where, according to Jaleel, there was a heated argument between him and Khan.
“Khan is the observer for Aurangabad election and I urged him to allow me to concentrate on Bandra East assembly by-poll where Congress has fielded its senior leader Narayan Rane,” Jaleel said.
“I was ready to take responsibility of Aurangabad election, but it is on April 22 and the assembly bypoll is on April 11. I told him let me complete the bypoll work, after which I will be back in Aurangabad,” he added.
“But the observer refused and asked me to concentrate only on Aurangabad,” Jaleel said.
Following this, Jaleel resigned from selection committee.
“I have left the committee and not the party,” he said, refuting the possibility of a split in the party.
The party has fielded Raja Rehbar Siraj Khan for Bandra East by-election, necessitated by the death of sitting Shiv Sena MLA Bala Sawant.
Samajwadi President, Abu Azmi alleged that AIMIM is hand in glove with the BJP. He said, “The AIMIM is an agent of BJP -Sena and the party had fielded Muslim candidates against Muslim leaders including himself.”
Narayan Rane said that the MIM was misleading the public of Behrampada that their houses will cease to exist in the new DP plan.
Rane released the plan of the DP related to Behrampada and showed it to the public. He said, “The AIMIM and Sena are spreading false stories about him and making absurd allegations as he was confident of victory. The Sena is scared that I will enter the assembly and expose them.”
“AIMIM has never given constructive advice to Muslim youth like obtaining jobs or seeking education. They are just trying to mislead the Muslim youth” he said.
“I have to bring development to this constituency as the Sena led BMC has been unable to provide water, roads or proper hospitals. Corruption is rampant in the BMC” Rane added.
