In the 2026 municipal elections in Maharashtra, while the BJP has established its dominance over the state's urban politics by taking a significant lead, one name has prominently emerged in this 'BJP tsunami'—that is Asaduddin Owaisi's party AIMIM. Out of the total 2,869 seats in the state's 29 municipal corporations, AIMIM has won or taken the lead in as many as 75 seats. This performance is considered significant not only quantitatively but also in terms of political influence.
AIMIM drew everyone's attention by winning three seats in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Although the percentage of Muslim voters in Mumbai is more than 20%, until now, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party had influence over these votes. However, Owaisi disrupted the Congress-NCP equation by fielding candidates in Muslim-majority wards. Irshad Khan won from Ward No. 135, Mehazbeen Atik Ahmed from 134, and Khairunnisa Hussain from 145.
AIMIM's most effective performance was seen in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) Municipal Corporation. Out of a total of 115 seats, the party has won or taken the lead in 24 seats. Due to the influence of former MP Imtiaz Jaleel and strong organizational structure, AIMIM has emerged as a major urban political force in Marathwada.
In the Muslim-majority Malegaon, Owaisi's party has played the role of 'kingmaker'. Out of 84 seats in the Malegaon Municipal Corporation, AIMIM is leading in 20 seats. With BJP leading in only 2, Shinde group in 18, and Congress in just 3 seats, it seems impossible to elect a mayor without AIMIM. Therefore, Owaisi's importance in Malegaon is going to be decisive. In the Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation, AIMIM has taken the lead in 14 seats, surprising everyone. The party has won 10 seats in Dhule, 7 in Amravati, 2 in Jalna, and 1 in Parbhani. The election of the first MIM corporator in Chandrapur is also considered symbolically significant.
According to political analysts, this success indicates an attempt by AIMIM to establish an independent identity in urban politics beyond its limited Muslim votes. Overall, even during the dominance of BJP, Owaisi's party has firmly established its place and proven itself as a new factor in Maharashtra's politics.