AIMIM’s strong performance in the 2026 Maharashtra municipal elections has reshaped urban politics. With 125 corporator wins, Asaduddin Owaisi rejected alliances, emphasized inclusive politics, and signaled the party’s expanding influence ahead of future state elections.
Asaduddin Owaisi, Image Source: (Internet)
Mumbai: The results of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Elections 2026 have created a fresh churn in the state’s political landscape. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has expressed satisfaction over his party’s impressive performance, calling it historic and politically significant.
Winning 125 corporator seats across 13 municipal corporations, AIMIM has more than doubled its earlier tally, signaling a growing urban presence in Maharashtra.
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Owaisi made it clear that AIMIM will not align with either the BJP or the opposition INDIA alliance, emphasizing that his party’s politics is driven by people’s mandate, not power negotiations.
Addressing the media in Hyderabad on January 17, 2026, Owaisi credited the victory to party workers and voters. He highlighted that AIMIM has evolved beyond being perceived as a single-community party. According to him, several Hindu candidates, including Dalit, SC, and ST leaders, won elections on AIMIM tickets.
This, he said, reflects the success of AIMIM’s “social engineering” model, which focuses on representation, local issues, and inclusive politics rather than identity-based polarization.
AIMIM emerged as a significant force in multiple urban centers. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the party won 33 seats, becoming the second-largest party after the BJP.
Similar performance was seen in Solapur, while in Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), AIMIM secured eight seats, marking a notable foothold in India’s financial capital.
These results indicate the party’s expanding influence, particularly in Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.
Owaisi strongly dismissed allegations that AIMIM acts as a “B-team” of the BJP. He argued that such claims insult the millions of voters who supported his party. According to him, disrespecting public mandate eventually leads to political decline.
He also cited the Akot municipal body as an example, instructing AIMIM corporators to avoid any arrangement involving the BJP. Stressing party discipline, he recalled how former MP Imtiaz Jaleel had earlier suspended a party member for backing a BJP candidate.
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Showing rare political candor, Owaisi admitted that AIMIM underperformed in Western Maharashtra due to lack of focused campaigning. He expressed regret over not spending enough time in the region and believed better results were possible with stronger engagement.
Despite losses, he urged party corporators to stay grounded and prioritize public service, stating that fulfilling promises is a greater responsibility than winning elections.
Held after a long delay, elections to 29 municipal corporations in January 2026 were seen as a litmus test ahead of the 2029 Maharashtra Assembly polls. AIMIM’s surge from 56 to 125 seats confirms its growing relevance in urban local governance and sets the stage for a larger political role in the state.
