Maharashtra local body polls: ISLAM party ends Congress dominance in Malegaon; gets 35 seats

MALEGAON: In its maiden contest for Malegaon MC, Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra (ISLAM) party, floated by former NCP MLA Asif Shaikh, ended Congress domination by winning 35 seats.

However, it fell short of a clear majority of 43 in the 84-seat corporation.ISLAM had tied up with SP, which bagged five seats. AIMIM emerged as the second largest party with 21 seats, up from 7 during the last polls, and Shiv Sena got 18 seats, 6 more than last term. BJP’s count dwindled to two seats. Congress won only 3 seats this time, 2 of which went to the party’s city unit president Ejaj Beg and his wife. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) was in second place with 21 seats.The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has got 18 seats, followed by five for the Samajwadi Party and three for the Congress. The Bharatiya Janata Party has been able to win just two seats in the Muslim-dominated powerloom town.