AIMIM Maharashtra Chief Imtiaz Jaleel on Monday claimed that the BJP could not achieve its goal of “400 paar” in the Lok Sabha elections due to the votes of Muslims who supported the INDIA alliance. He further stated that his party is open to collaborating with the INDIA bloc to defeat the BJP in future elections.
Speaking to ANI, Jaleel remarked that the INDIA alliance is under a misconception if it believes it can replicate its Lok Sabha success in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls. He emphasized that state elections are driven by local issues, which may not align with the narrative of national elections.
Jaleel said, “The BJP couldn’t achieve ‘400 paar’ because Muslims stood in long queues under the scorching sun and voted for the INDIA alliance. But what did they get in return? They were targeted and attacked in their own homes, as seen in incidents like those in Kolhapur. Despite their support, no Muslim candidate was given a single seat out of the 12 state council seats. When the Waqf Bill was presented in the Lok Sabha, Shiv Sena (UBT) ran away.”
Expressing his willingness to work with the opposition alliance, Jaleel added, “I am ready to join you and fight with full strength against the BJP. But if the INDIA bloc assumes that their Lok Sabha success will automatically translate into Assembly votes, they are mistaken. Assembly elections are fought on local issues. They need to clear this misconception before they consider engaging with us.”
Highlighting the importance of Muslim votes, Jaleel asserted, “Everyone now realizes how significant Muslim votes are, and we can become kingmakers too.”
The press conference also witnessed a scuffle when AIMIM supporters clashed over the appointment of Raiees Lashkaria as the new Mumbai AIMIM chief, replacing Faiyaz Ahmed Khan. Addressing the incident, Jaleel said, “I am surprised that Faiyaz Ahmed is suddenly alleging that we are working as a ‘B team’ just because he was removed from his post. In politics, one must make space for others. Decisions regarding him will be taken by party chief Asaduddin Owaisi, but discipline within the party remains paramount.”
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, in a recent statement, clarified that security concerns and the ongoing festival season in Maharashtra are among the reasons for the delay in state elections. The next round of polls is anticipated after key festivals, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, and Diwali.