MUMBAI — Early trends and declared results from the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections indicate that Muslim voters in several parts of the city played a decisive role, backing new political alternatives while also standing by sitting corporators where local work and trust mattered most.
The most visible shift occurred in the MS East ward, a densely populated region with a significant Muslim population, where the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) emerged as the single largest party. AIMIM candidates won eight wards, many of them at the expense of the Samajwadi Party, which had earlier maintained a foothold in these areas.
MS East includes Mankhurd, Deonar, Shivaji Nagar, Rafi Nagar, Kamla Raman Nagar, Cheeta Camp, Ekta Nagar, Ramabai Nagar and Gautam Nagar. In 2017, AIMIM had opened its account here when Shahnawaz Sarfaraz Hussain Sheikh won from Ward 145. This time, contesting as an independent, he lost, while AIMIM’s Khairunnisa Akbar Hussain won the same ward.
Other AIMIM winners included Mehjabeen Atiq Ahmed Khan (Ward 134), Zameer Qureshi (136), Sameer Patel (137), Roshan Irfan Sheikh (138), Shabana Atif Sheikh (139), Vijay Tatoba (140), Shabana Farooq Qazi (143) and Khairunnisa Akbar Hussain (145).
An AIMIM worker from Shivaji Nagar said, “People voted for us because they wanted a clear voice that speaks directly about local issues like water supply, housing and safety.”
In Kurla, voting patterns largely favoured sitting corporators and familiar political families. Congress corporator Ashraf Azmi won Ward 165, defeating Abdul Rashid “Captain” Malik, brother of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader Nawab Malik. Captain Malik, a sitting corporator from Ward 170, had shifted wards but failed to retain his seat.
Ashraf Azmi’s daughter, Dr Suman, won Ward 167, previously represented by his wife Dilshad Bano. “This victory reflects years of trust,” Azmi said. “People know who stands with them in difficult times.”
From Ward 170, Captain Malik’s daughter-in-law Bushra Nadeem secured a win, while Nawab Malik’s sister, Dr Saeeda Khan, was elected from Ward 168. In Ward 162, Congress candidate Aamir Khan, son of senior leader Mohammad Arif (Naseem) Khan, won, continuing the party’s hold in the area.
In Wadala’s Ward 179, Congress candidate Ayesha, wife of former corporator Sufiyan Niaz Ahmed Vinu, won after the seat was reserved for women, securing a margin of 6,934 votes. Sufiyan Vinu himself lost from Ward 138, where an AIMIM candidate emerged victorious. “Voters judged performance, not just names,” Ayesha said after her win.
From Ward 201, covering RA Kidwai Marg and surrounding areas, Samajwadi Party candidate Aram Sajid Ahmed Siddiqui won with 6,314 votes. The ward has seen changing party control over the last two elections.
In the Maloni–Malad assembly segments, Congress registered a strong showing, winning four seats. Haider Ali Sheikh, son of local MLA Aslam Sheikh, won Ward 34 with 16,614 votes—the highest margin among Congress winners in the area. “People rejected hate and voted for peace and development,” he said.
Aslam Sheikh’s sister and former corporator, Qamarjahan Siddiqui, won Ward 33 with a comfortable margin. In Ward 48, Congress candidate Rafiq Sheikh defeated candidates from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the Samajwadi Party in a three-cornered contest, while Sangeeta Koli won from Ward 49.
Ward 32 witnessed a narrow defeat for the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), with Geeta Kiran Bhandari of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena winning by just 84 votes.
In Dharavi, public anger over the redevelopment project and sustained mobilisation by the Dharavi Bachao Andolan led to a complete wipe-out of the BJP. Congress candidate Asha Kale won Ward 183, while Sajida, wife of sitting corporator Babbu Khan, won Ward 184. Other wards were won by different factions of the Shiv Sena, but the voters’ message was unambiguous.
A Dharavi resident said, “People are afraid of losing their homes. This vote was a warning that decisions cannot be forced on us.”
Overall, the results underscore how Muslim voters in Mumbai voted strategically—embracing new political voices, rewarding consistent local work, and rejecting parties and policies perceived as dismissive of their concerns.
