In the politics of Maharashtra, the politics of two North Indian Muslim leaders rose to political prominence together from the same party, but now they are out to defeat each other in the battle for political supremacy. We are talking about Abu Asim Azmi and Nawab Malik. Both these Muslim leaders come from Purvanchal in Uttar Pradesh and have been trying their luck from Muslim dominated seats in Mumbai. There was a deep friendship between them and the MLAs were elected from SP, but politics has now brought each other face to face.
Abu Asim Azmi and Nawab Malik are well-known Muslim faces in Mumbai politics and both are North Indian leaders. Abu Asim Azmi has become MLA thrice from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat and is contesting for the fourth time. Nawab Malik has been contesting elections and being elected MLA from Anushaktinagar seat of Mumbai. At one time both were strong leaders of SP, but later both separated on political paths. Nawab Malik left SP and joined NCP and became close to Sharad Pawar, while Abu Asim Azmi completely took the command of SP in his hands.
Who will prevail over whom politically?
While Nawab Malik remained in NCP, Abu Asim Azmi continued doing politics from SP. Even after this, they never openly challenged each other, but this time both have come forward to deal with each other politically. When Abu Asim Azmi made his move in Anushaktinagar, where Nawab Malik has political influence, Nawab Malik himself has come out to directly challenge Azmi on Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat. In such a situation, it remains to be seen who prevails over whom in the political check-mate game going on between Nawab Malik and Abu Azmi?
Azmi laid the chessboard against Malik
While Abu Asim Azmi has been trying for a long time to establish his absolute rule in the Muslim politics of Maharashtra, Nawab Malik also wants to maintain his supremacy. When Nawab Malik went to jail in the money laundering case, Abu Azmi started playing his political strategy. Abu Azmi had started making efforts to field his close friend Fahad Ahmed from Anushaktinagar seat, the birthplace of Nawab Malik. While studying from Tata Institute, Fahad had associated with SP leader Abu Asim. In such a situation, he started doing his politics with SP.
Swara Bhaskar Fahad Malik in the field
After Fahad’s marriage with film actress Swara Bhaskar, Abu Azmi felt that by making him contest elections from SP, he would completely eliminate Nawab Malik, because BJP had also taken an aggressive stance against Malik. In this way, Abu Asim Azmi had laid a strong political chessboard and the name of Anushaktinagar seat was also included in the seats he demanded for SP. Fahad was constantly active in the field and Abu Azmi also started batting for him.
Sana Malik vs Fahad Ahmed
From Anushaktinagar seat, Ajit Pawar has made Nawab Malik’s daughter Sana Malik the candidate from NCP. SP was demanding this seat in Maha Vikas Aghadi, but when it went to NCP’s quota, Fahad joined Sharad Pawar in the field. In this way, the election fight became between Sana Malik vs Fahad Ahmed on Anushakti Nagar seat. If we look at the results of the last three elections on the Muslim dominated seat, Nawab Malik has won twice on NCP ticket and in 2014 it was won by Shiv Sena. This time Abu Azmi wants to maintain his supremacy by fighting his close friend Fahad, but Nawab Malik has also played his trump card.
Nawab Malik vs Abu Azmi Jung
On Anushaktinagar seat, Abu Asim Azmi fielded his close aide from Sharad Pawar’s NCP against Nawab Malik’s daughter. In response to this, Nawab Malik Mankhurd himself contested against Abu Azmi on Shivaji Nagar seat. Azmi has been MLA from this seat thrice and it is considered a stronghold of SP. Mankhurd seat is considered very favorable from the point of view of Muslim politics and is dominated by North Indian Muslims. That is why Abu Azmi has been contesting elections from here and becoming MLA, but this time Nawab Malik has created political tension by allying with NCP.
Muslim votes will be scattered
Abu Asim Azmi may be confident of his victory on the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat, but the election contest has become interesting after Nawab Malik filed nomination as NCP candidate. Among the Muslim voters on this seat, a large number are from UP and especially from the Purvanchal belt. Both Abu Asim and Nawab Malik being from Purvanchal, both have influence. In such a situation, if Muslim votes get scattered then the path will not be easy for Azmi. In this way the rhetoric between Nawab Malik and Abu Asim Azmi has intensified.
Drama of protest against Nawab Malik
Abu Asim Azmi says that Nawab Malik is not coming but BJP is sending him. He said that BJP knows that they do not get the votes of Muslims, hence to divide Muslim votes, BJP is deliberately pretending to oppose Nawab Malik. Is. After all his daughter is fighting with Mahayuti only. In such a situation, Nawab Malik says that he had already made preparations to contest elections from Mankhurd assembly seat and Ajit Pawar has made a big move by expressing confidence in him. Shiv Sena has also fielded its candidate on this seat.
Battle to become Muslim face in Mumbai
Nawab Malik is a resident of small Dhuswa village in Utraula tehsil of Balrampur district of Purvanchal, Uttar Pradesh. His family moved to Mumbai in 1970. Nawab Malik’s father Mohd. Islam Malik used to run a small business in Dongri, Mumbai, but later shifted to Kurla. Nawab Malik did his studies from writing to politics and business in Mumbai. Contested elections against veteran Congress leader Gurudas Kamat and later joined Congress. Left Congress, joined SP and became MLA. After this, due to political enmity with Abu Azmi, he left SP and joined NCP and also became a minister in Maharashtra several times.
Command of SP State President
Whereas, Abu Asim Azmi has settled in Mumbai from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. From business to politics in Mumbai itself, Mankhurd made Shivaji Nagar seat his work place and was elected MLA for three consecutive times. Azmi is holding the command of SP state president. Muslims are considered aggressive faces of politics. In this way they want to maintain their political influence. For this, even strong Muslim leaders have been politically marginalized. In this way, Abu Azmi and Nawab Malik have now come against each other. Whichever of these loses the election, will the political path ahead become very difficult for him?
