Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | DH Interview: We are moving strategically: AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel

For Imtiaz Jaleel, the journalist-turned-politician, who leads the Maharashtra unit of the the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), this election is a big challenge.

The 56-year-old Jaleel is planning to contest the Aurangabad Central seat of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha bye-elections from Nanded.

Just back from Hyderabad after meeting AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, Jaleel said that the party is moving strategically in Maharashtra.

“We will surely win seats, we have a list ready,” Jaleel tells DH’s Mrityunjay Bose in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

You intend to contest for Lok Sabha as well as Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

My party people and supporters want me to contest the two seats. I had represented Aurangabad Central as an MLA for five years from 2014-19. I was the Aurangabad MP from 2019-2024. As regards, Nanded seat is concerned, it was from Nanded, that AIMIM made a grand entry in Maharashtra. My supporters are insisting that I should contest. There is no harm in it.

What about the seats that are with you now.

We have two seats in the outgoing Assembly - Malegaon Central, which is represented by Mufti Ismail and Dhule City which is represented by Shah Faruk Anwar. We have a list ready. I am just back after meeting Owaisi Sahab.

Why have the talks failed with Congress?

The ball is in their court. We had some discussions but at the end the Maharashtra leadership said that the Congress high-command would take a call. Owaisi Saheb will speak to them and take a call.

In the run up to the elections, you have been critical of Shiv Sena (UBT).

They have been silent on the objectionable remarks of Ramagiri Maharaj. There is considerable anger across the country against him. Their stand on Wakf Bill was surprising.

You have also reached out to Maratha reservation campaigner Manoj Jarange-Patil.

We stand for people’s welfare. As a community, his supporters are contesting elections. We can be of help to each other.

What is the plan ahead?

We are moving strategically. As of now, we have two MLAs. We have 140 councillors. In the previous elections, we have been in No 2 and No 3 positions in some. We would put up candidates. However, from day one we had remained flexible. We will surely win seats, we have a list ready.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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