MUMBAI: When TOI wrote its analysis on the M (East) ward which spans Govandi-Mankhurd, there were discernible undercurrents against the Samajwadi Party (SP). Many youths especially felt their lives and civic conditions had not improved despite the SP dominating the politics of the area for a long time. “There was anti-incumbency sentiment against SP. Besides, MIM had fielded educated locals, which helped built trust. Residents felt these candidates were from among them,” said Faiyaz Shaikh of the Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum. Asaduddin Owaisi had even launched his campaign in the city from Govandi. As results trickled in on Friday, the Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e Ittihadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) emerged the largest party for minorities in the BMC house, winning 8 seats, including all six in Govandi. One of the MIM winners is Vijay Tatoba Ubale, who won from ward 140.AIMIM has breached SP state chief and MLA Abu Asim Azmi’s bastion which he’s won thrice. SP claimed to represent the community in Mumbai and Maharashtra for over two decades. In the outgoing house, AIMIM had two corporators while SP had six (five in Govandi and one in Madanpura). In a reversal of fortunes, AIMIM will have 8 (6 from Govandi and two from Cheetah Camp) and SP will have 2 (one each in Byculla and Sewri).Ex-MLA Waris Pathan credited MIM’s performance to the leadership and the Muslim voter’s disenchantment with SP. “Asad sahab and Akbar sahab (Owaisi’s younger brother Akbaruddini) addressed meetings in Govandi. We fought BMC polls without a city chief as previous chief Farooque Shabdi had resigned on the eve of the election,” said Pathan. However, Azmi, who was Govandi MLA for over a decade, said Muslim youths were simply carried away by the Owaisi brothers’ speeches. “More than AIMIM victory, it is a victory of BJP which wanted to finish my leadership. As long as AIMIM keeps winning a few seats, BJP will use it to polarise Hindu voters,” said Azmi.AIMIM also opened its account in Thane by winning five seats in Mumbra. Its Mumbra chief Saif Pathan said, “I have won and four of our candidates in one panel have won.”
