AIMIM looks to expand rural base through ZP elections after winning 125 seats in municipal corporations across Maharashtra

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Buoyed by its performance in the recently concluded municipal elections, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is now eyeing the upcoming zilla parishad and panchayat samiti polls to extend its influence from urban local bodies into the state's rural political landscape.The party secured 125 corporator seats across Maharashtra in the recent municipal polls, marking AIMIM's strongest showing outside its home turf, Hyderabad. The tally nearly doubled its municipal representation in Telangana, where it has 67 corporators, including 45 in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Party leaders said the Maharashtra mandate had shifted public perception, positioning AIMIM as a serious political force rather than a fringe outfit accused of splitting votes of parties claiming to be ‘secular.'AIMIM's state president and former MP Syed Imtiaz Jaleel said the civic poll outcome had strengthened public faith in the party's inclusive approach. "We ensured that Hindu, SC and ST candidates were elected on AIMIM tickets in Maharashtra. This has boosted confidence among people, and now individuals from various communities and political backgrounds are approaching us for zilla parishad and panchayat samiti tickets," he said.Jaleel also acknowledged that the party was receiving interest from regions where its organisational presence was minimal. "We are getting applications from areas where AIMIM does not yet exist. This shows that people are seeking alternatives and willing to connect with us at the grassroots level," he added.The momentum was evident on Monday at Jaleel's office in the city, where long queues of aspirants turned up seeking party nominations for the upcoming rural body polls. Several hopefuls were interviewed for ZP and panchayat samiti seats, with workers managing crowds from early morning.Party insiders said the list of applicants included former corporators, grassroots workers from rival parties and newcomers to politics — an indication of AIMIM's widening appeal beyond its conventional support base. Political analysts said while AIMIM had consolidated its presence in urban pockets across Marathwada, parts of western Maharashtra and select northern Maharashtra cities, the ZP polls presented a different test. Rural elections are often shaped by caste equations, agrarian concerns, and entrenched local leadership — factors that demand long-term ground-level engagement.Even so, AIMIM members remain optimistic. One senior office-bearer from Hyderabad said the recent surge in support, combined with a growing network of elected representatives, placed the party in a strong position to enter rural governance structures. MSID:: 126686180 413 |