'Anyone but BJP, Shiv Sena': AIMIM claims Shinde's party sought post-civic poll union; says open to 'respectful offers' from others

NEW DELHI: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde–led Shiv Sena had approached the AIMIM for a post-poll alliance in a civic body in Maharashtra, senior AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel claimed on Monday.

Jaleel, a former Lok Sabha MP of the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party, added that it would consider “respectful proposals” from other parties to keep the ruling allies BJP and Shiv Sena out of power in certain municipal corporations.




“We have already rejected the proposal. We shall not join hands with Eknath Shinde. We are open to forging alliances to keep the BJP and Shiv Sena away from coming to power. If we receive a respectful proposal from other parties, we will consider it,” PTI quoted the AIMIM's Maharashtra unit chief as saying.

However, he did not specify the names or number of civic bodies for which the alleged offers were made.

Jaleel added that the AIMIM’s post-poll assessment indicated that no single party had secured a clear mandate in three to four civic bodies in the recently held local polls.

Reflecting on the Hyderabad-based party’s performance in the January 15 municipal elections in Maharashtra, he said the AIMIM’s footprint was expanding across municipal councils and corporations.

In the polls held across 29 municipal bodies, the BJP won the highest number of seats—1,425 of the 2,869 on offer—followed by the Shiv Sena with 399 and the NCP with 167.

The AIMIM also put up an impressive performance, winning 125 corporator seats in the state.
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