BMC Elections 2017: Muslims prefer SP, Congress over AIMIM

The All India Majlies-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which fought the civic polls for the first time, failed to make any impact it so desired and thought it would. Muslims leaned towards other party candidates over the emotionally charged speeches by AIMIM's leaders.

Of the 59 seats they contested, barring two, the party lost all. The party faced further embarrassment as it lost in wards where both the Owaisi brothers had conducted symbolic public meetings for the first time.

In fact, the anti-incumbency that the AIMIM was banking on, seemed to be more prevalent in its MLA-represented constituency as compared to the SP and Congress. The party also blamed SP and Congress for not protecting Muslims in UP riots.

Waris Pathan, the party's sole MLA, when asked about the poor show said, "We will introspect and find a strategy to see what went wrong. We will work harder. Congress, SP and NCP all connived and ganged up against us."

The Congress won most of the seats in the Mumbadevi Assembly constituency. "The party did not field heavyweights. People wanted someone to work for their betterment," said Mohammed Umar, a resident of Dongri.