The AIMIM has doubled its number of corporators in urban civc bodies across Maharashtra as the final tallies showed the party winning around 114 seats across 12 municipal corporations.
In the previous civic body polls, AIMIM had just 48 seats to its name.
Its best performance was recorded at Chhatrapatu Sambhajinagar, winning 33 seats. It also bagged 21 seats in Malegaon, 13 in Nanded, 11 in Amravati, 10 in Dhule and eight in Solapur. AIMIM also won six seats in BMC, five in Thane, two in Jalgaon and one in Chandrapur.
With the latest tally, AIMIM has placed itself ahead of major parties like the Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
The elections results show how Muslim votes were consolidated behind AIMIM, which has increased its presence in Maharashtra by focusing on certain seats. This meant that minority voters who traditionally voted for the Congress, the NCP factions or other parties like Samajwadi Party switched their allegiance to AIMIM.
"Initially, AIMIM faced a challenge from its own people over candidature in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Later, the presence of Asaduddin Owaisi and his rallies in potent pockets resulted in AIMIM winning 33 out of 37 seats we contested here. We have bagged wins from Mumbai to Chandrapur this time," AIMIM leader Shareque Naqshbandi told PTI.
He pointed out that infighting among opposition parties presented an opportunity for the AIMIM. Asaduddin Owaisi went door to door in the seats contested by his party candidates. "[Owaisi] pointed out local civic issues in smaller rallies which appealed to the voter," he added.
