AIMIM to kickstart its poll campaigning in Maharashtra from September 29

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is to kickstart its political campaigning in Maharashtra from Monday (September 29, 2025) in view of the upcoming local body elections in Mumbai.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi will be on a two-day tour of the State starting Monday (September 29, 2025). He will hold two public rallies in Kolhapur and Ahilyanagar over these two days. Meanwhile, Hindutva organisations have opposed his tour in Kolhapur.

When asked about his Maharashtra visit, Mr. Owaisi told The Hindu, “Now that the honourable Supreme Court has given a deadline for conducting the elections, we have to start campaigning. I will be in Maharashtra for two days now. I will thereafter visit Bihar again.”

When asked about holding the rallies amid the current rain warnings, he said it was a concern, but that his rallies had already been postponed twice due to the rains. “It is a challenge. But now that the dates will be nearing, I will travel to both these places to hold public meetings.”

Mr. Owaisi will be in Kolhapur on Monday (September 29, 2025) and will hold a public rally at the handloom and powerloom town of Ichalkaranji, often called the Manchester of Maharashtra. Muslims are the second largest population group in the town.

On Tuesday (September 30, 2025), he will travel to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, hold a public rally at Ahilyanagar. “We will attend a public event in Pune thereafter,” Waris Pathan, AIMIM leader, said.

AIMIM to contest local body polls

Mr. Pathan said that the party is slated to contest the local body elections in Maharashtra. The party is also in talks with other parties for a possible alliance. “We are still in talks. When, with whom, is something you will have to wait for. The party leadership will take a call on it. We intend to fight these elections. We are taking stock of which all places we will contest at,” Mr. Pathan said.

Opposition to the visit

Several Hindutva organisations have opposed Mr. Owaisi’s visit and have raised apprehension that his speeches might disturb social harmony during Navratri and when the festival of Dasara is around the corner. They have submitted a memorandum to the Kolhapur Police. They have expressed fear of violence in the aftermath of ‘I love Muhammad’ campaign.

“We have received a memorandum. It is about the inauguration ceremony of the AIMIM office in Kolhapur. Due to some legal issues, it has been put on hold. Adequate measures are being taken to maintain law and order situation in Kolhapur. There is no problem,” Yogesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Kolhapur, told The Hindu.

“We have opposed his tour because he makes public statements which disturb social harmony, which create tensions within communities. Kolhapur is a peace-loving city. We have all co-existed peacefully for many years. We don’t want him to come and say something, which will incite public feelings. It is the pious festival of Navratri, which is going on. Dasara is to come up. We will continue opposing his visit,” Niranjan Shinde of Sakal Hindu Samaj said.

Responding to the opposition, AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan said, “Their minds are filled with hatred. We are coming there to hold conversations with people. The administration has given us permission. We held campaigns in Bihar too. There was no violence anywhere. What is the basis of levelling such allegations? The Constitution gives us the right to go anywhere and hold public meetings anywhere.”