Owaisi challenges Pawar to give proof of MIM-BJP deal

MUMBAI: Sharad Pawar is not the first politician to allege that the Majlise Ittihadul Muslimeen (MIM) had a “deal” with the BJP to cut into the “secular” votes.
Ever since the MIM decided to contest the assembly election in the state and went on to field its candidates from Muslim-dominated constituencies, non-BJP political leaders have alleged that the MIM was quietly backed by the BJP.
MIM president and MP Asaduddin Owaisi said Pawar was making reckless allegations. “If he has any proof of MIM having entered into any deal with the BJP, he should make it public,” he said.
He said people were tired of the “communalism” and corruption of the previous, Congress-NCP government and rejected the two parties in the election.
Congress and SP leaders said Pawar’s comment vindicated their stand.
“I have been saying from the first day that BJP has backed MIM,” Congress MLA Amin Patel said. “MIM fielded candidates only in the Muslim-dominated constituencies and helped the BJP and Sena. My constituency [Mumbadevi] has 45% Muslim voters, where MIM had no chance to win. Yet it fielded its candidate [Shahid Mohd Rafi], who secured 16,165 votes and came third. Atul Shah would have won from here had the MIM got just a few thousands more votes.”
M A Khalid of the All India Milli Council said the MIM played with the Muslims’ emotions.
MIM MLA Waris Pathan, who won from Byculla, denied his party wanted to split Muslim votes.
“Baba Siddiqui of Congess and Nawab Malik of NCP too lost despite the absence of MIM candidates against them,” he said.
SP state leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi had also alleged during the election that the MIM was backed by the BJP.