A day after Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, demanded that Rs. 7,700 crore be spent from the BMC budget to provide amenities to Muslims, the BJP complained to the State Election Commission accusing Mr. Owaisi of promising money in the name of religion.
A secret alliance
Meanwhile, the Congress and Samajwadi Party said the AIMIM and the BJP were in a secret alliance to polarise voters. The BMC polls are likely to be held in February and Muslims votes can be crucial in deciding the fate of over 30 of the 227 seats.
The AIMIM poses a challenge to the Congress and the SP as it is likely to divide their traditional votes. Of the 23 Muslim corporators in the BMC, 11 belong to the Congress, the SP has six, four are independents, and two belong to the NCP. Mr. Owaisi while addressing a rally on Sunday in the city said, “Muslims aren’t getting their due from the BMC. I promise the AIMIM will get funds for Muslims if it comes to power. Muslims comprise 21 per cent of the population. At least Rs 7,770 crore must be spent on them.”
The BJP seems lilkely to emerge victorious in a three-way fight. The party’s Mumbai unit chief, Ashish Shelar, said, “Our party does not belong to one community. We condemn Owaisi’s demands, which create rifts within the communities, and demand action against him.”
‘Polarising voters’
Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam said, “Commenting on AIMIM only means falling prey to the BJP’s agenda. Muslim community will not and should not vote for the party. Any vote to AIMIM means a vote to BJP or Shiv Sena. The community has and has promised to stand with us in the polls.”
The SP was also vocal in its criticism against the AIMIM. Rais Sheikh, the party’s leader in the BMC, said, “Voting for Owaisi means BJP will be the beneficiary. They are coming here with an aim to polarise voters. We have showed the Muslim community what development is and I am sure they will stand with us.”
The AIMIM is set to launch a melava (get-together) for the Muslim community under MLA Naseem Khan.
