Why AIMIM didn't contest Maharashtra polls with MVA? Waris Pathan reveals

Nandigram Times October 29, 2024

Maharashtra elections: AIMIM leader Waris Pathan is in the poll fray from Bhiwandi West, where BJP's Mahesh Choughule is seeking a third consecutive term as an MLA.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan on Tuesday claimed that his party was interested in contesting the Maharashtra assembly elections with the Maha Vikas Aghadi but the alliance did not contact them.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi is Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP). It is up against the ruling Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

We had told them, our Maharashtra President had also written a letter that we should come together to defeat the BJP but perhaps they were not interested. They did not contact us. We have a political party and contesting elections strengthens democracy," ANI quoted Pathan, who filed his nomination from Bhiwandi West seat.

The assembly constituency is part of the Bhiwandi Lok Sabha seat. Pathan will face BJP's Mahesh Choughule, an MLA from this seat since 2014.

"I am sure that the people of Bhiwandi will bless me with votes and send me to the Maharashtra Assembly. These are all decisions of the party. The party has chosen me for Bhiwani, and that is why I am here today," Pathan said.

Earlier in the day, AIMIM Maharashtra Chief Imtiaz Jaleel also filed his nomination from Aurangabad (East) seat.

Maharashtra Assembly Election

The Maharashtra Assembly elections are held on November 20; the counting of votes in all 288 constituencies will be taken up on November 23.

In the 2019 assembly election, the BJP had got 105 seats, whereas the Shiv Sena acquired 56, and Congress acquired 44. Back in 2014, the BJP had emerged the winner in 122, followed by the Shiv Sena in 63 seats, and the Congress took 42.

Lok Sabha polls 2024 results boost Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance: Shiv Sena (UBT) has emerged successful in seven of the constituencies, the Congress has won 13 and the NCP-SP has bagged one seat, thereby totalizing the alliance tally to 17.