The stir in Mumbai politics has intensified before the BMC elections. Now AIMIM has presented a direct challenge in the Mankhurd-Govandi area, considered the traditional stronghold of Samajwadi Party’s senior leader Abu Azmi. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi is going to hold a big election meeting in the same area at 9 pm tonight, which is being considered an important political signal for SP.

Mankhurd and Govandi areas have long been considered a strong vote bank of the Samajwadi Party. Abu Azmi has been continuously elected MLA from here. Not only this, even in the BMC elections, most of the SP councilors have been winning from this area. SP’s hold in this Muslim-dominated area has been considered strong till now.

AIMIM in aggressive mood

This time AIMIM is in a completely aggressive mood regarding BMC elections. The party is trying to create a strong share in Muslim votes. Owaisi’s meeting is being considered a part of this strategy, where he can directly talk about local issues and representation.

Increased concern for SP

According to political experts, this meeting of Owaisi is in danger of denting the vote bank of SP. If AIMIM succeeds in effectively attracting Muslim voters here, then it may cause direct loss to SP. This is the reason why Abu Azmi and the SP leadership are keeping a close eye on this development.

Competition will increase in BMC elections

The contest in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections seems to be getting more interesting. In areas like Mankhurd-Govandi, a direct fight between SP vs AIMIM can change the electoral mathematics. In the coming days, it will be important to see how much of a challenge Owaisi’s entry poses for SP.

In Maharashtra, where big/main parties are engaged in talks for the Municipal Corporation elections, Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party has released the first list. The party has announced candidates for 21 wards of Mumbai. Releasing the list of candidates, the party said that as per the instructions of Maharashtra State President Abu Asim Azmi, the first list of candidates contesting from Samajwadi Party in the upcoming Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections has been released today (26 December).

Giving more information on this subject, Chief General Secretary of Samajwadi Party, Meraj Siddiqui said that the party will contest the elections with full strength in all the wards of Mumbai and very soon the list of other candidates will also be declared.

list of candidates

1.Ward 20 – Mohammad Azharuddin Siddiqui

2.Ward 64 – Dr. Sheela Akhilesh Yadav

3.Ward 90 – Sana Abbas Qureshi

4.Ward 96 – Subhash Shaikh Shabbir

5.Ward 134 – Poet Shahbaz Khan Azmi

6.Ward 135 – Shahbaz Sabir Shaikh

7.Ward 136 – Rubaba Nazeen Siddiqui

8.Ward 137 – Ahad Yunus Qureshi

9.Ward 140 – Appati Vidyasagar Dawar

10.Ward 141 – Zayed Imranullah Qureshi

11.Ward 142 – Jyoti Laxman Gude

12.Ward 143 – Ayesha Rahmatullah Sardar

13.Ward 148 – Sakshi Sunilkumar Yadav

14.Ward 174 – Dr. Arama Thakur

15.Ward 181 – Mohammad Adil Mumtaz Shaikh

16.Ward 188 – Ghaus Mohiuddin Latif Khan

17.Ward 201 – Irfan Sajid Ahmed Siddiqui

18.Ward 212 – Amreen Shahzad Abdullah

19.Ward 213 – Dominic Malik

20.Ward 220 – Ghulam Makhdoori

21.Ward 224 – Rukhsana Zafar Tikamwala

Samajwadi Party going alone in BMC elections!

Samajwadi Party is part of the ‘India’ block. Mahavikas Aghadi under India Block in Maharashtra includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar’s party NCP (SP). Despite this, Samajwadi Party is adopting the strategy of running alone in the BMC elections. Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra unit president Abu Azmi had recently announced that SP alone will contest Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections on about 150 seats. Earlier, Samajwadi Party had also contested the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections alone, in which the party had won 2 out of 9 assembly seats.

When will BMC elections?

There is a competition among political parties to gain power over the 227-member BMC. The countdown for the elections of 29 municipal corporations including BMC in Maharashtra has started. Voting will take place on 15 January 2026 while the results will be declared on 16 January.

SP announced that the party will contest alone in the Maharashtra civic elections. Samajwadi Party Maharashtra President Abu Azmi announced this in a press conference on Wednesday (November 19). Taking aim at Congress, he said that a big party like Congress only wants to take and not give. Samajwadi Party will contest the Municipal Corporation elections in entire Maharashtra. Will contest on 150 seats in Mumbai. People are not getting clean water in the slum areas of Mumbai.

Gave advice to Congress!

Abu Azmi said that there is a lack of leadership in Congress. Congress should make changes and reforms in its organization. If the alliance is done well then the results are good. Congress does not invite us in the alliance, we should maintain restraint.

The name of Samajwadi Party movement is- Abu Azmi

Abu Azmi said that Samajwadi Party is the name of the movement. It is a party of farmers, laborers and downtrodden people. Samajwadi Party does not talk about religion. He said that due to reservation in civic elections, many candidates are not able to contest the elections. He said that Samajwadi Party is a party of the deprived, Dalits and backward people. Reservation of seats for corporators in BMC should be announced at least one year in advance so that the candidates can prepare.

We will not make any alliance- Abu Azmi

The SP leader said that the forms will be distributed by the party from November 20. We will fight wherever we are elected. We will contest the elections alone and will not form any alliance. In the last elections, only two seats were left without talking to us.

Abu Azmi said that if you go to Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, their people get funds. The least amount of funds is available in Shivaji Nagar Govandi.

Also angry at Raj Thackeray’s party

Targeting Raj Thackeray’s party, he said that MNS has insulted North Indians a lot. Whoever goes with them will suffer loss.

Vande Mataram Controversy: The debate has once again erupted regarding Vande Mataram. Actually, this controversy started in Maharashtra when the state government ordered all schools to sing the full version of Vande Mataram between 31 October and 7 November to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. After this, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi opposed it. Meanwhile, a big question arose whether someone can be punished for refusing to sing Vande Mataram or not? Let us know what is the answer to this question and also what Indian law says on this issue.

Is there any punishment for not singing Vande Mataram?

According to the Indian Constitution and the policy of the Central Government, there is no legal punishment or provision for not singing Vande Mataram. Singing Vande Mataram is completely voluntary and not mandatory. The government clarified in Parliament that no law makes singing or playing of Vande Mataram mandatory. Along with this, there is no punitive provision related to this.

Constitutional status of Vande Mataram

Although Vande Mataram has the honorary status of the national song of India, it does not have the constitutional status like the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. This means that despite the immense value of patriotism in Vande Mataram, it cannot be implemented legally. Citizens are completely free to express their respect in different ways.

Supreme Court’s stance on compulsion

The Supreme Court has repeatedly said that no one can be forced to sing the national anthem, provided he does not disrespect it and just stands respectfully. Along with this, the court refused to make Vande Mataram mandatory and also emphasized that patriotism cannot be measured by any compulsion. Freedom of expression, protected under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution, gives individuals complete freedom to choose how they express national honour.

Madras High Court judgment 2017

In 2017, the Madras High Court had directed that Vande Mataram be sung in all schools and government offices in Tamil Nadu. But he also made it clear that if any person or organization has real difficulty or problem then it should not be forced. From this it became clear that this order is advisory and not mandatory.

Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act 1971

The Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act 1971 completely regulates the respect for the national flag and the national anthem, but it does not mention controlling the national anthem. Therefore, refusing to sing Vande Mataram is not a crime.

Also read: Why did Congress ban singing Vande Mataram, over which lines was the dispute?

On Gandhi Jayanti, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party chief Abu Azmi remembered the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. During this, he targeted the BJP RSS fiercely. Abu Azmi said that the people of RSS did not contribute to India’s independence. Children should know this truth today.

In a conversation with news agency ANI, Abu Azmi said, “Whatever work the BJP will do, it will do against the Muslims. Who did not give a ticket to a single Muslim. Not a single Muslim was made a minister, poison is being sung against Muslims.”

‘Which people who sacrificed in independence should know these children’

He said, “Where is the world going from today. So much progress is being made, but we are still engaged in Hindu-Muslim, which increases hatred. I say that children should be given modern education. Modern education should be given. Children of new times should tell how our country is free. Go. “

‘RSS did not hoist the tricolor for years’

Azmi further said, RSS people do not believe in the Constitution, they did not hoist the tricolor for how many years. These people want to paint the whole country in the same color. Today, one child needs to read the constitution so that peace peace can arise in the country. “

‘RSS people used to get pension from British’

He also said, “We have read in history that when the people of RSS were jailed, they used to write a letter to the British that we will make us the indigenous movement of Gandhiji. We will get the pension from the British. What is these people contributed to the independence of India. What is the truth that is true.”

In Maharashtra, Samajwadi Party (SP) state president and MLA Abu Azmi has given a big statement amidst the Marathi language dispute. Abu Azmi questioned the need to speak in Marathi in Bhiwandi. He asked, “What is the difference between Marathi and Hindi?” Now this comment of Abu Azmi created a political controversy.

The dispute started when Abu Azmi visited Bhiwandi city in Thane district adjacent to Mumbai. They were demanding to stop the widening of Kalyan Road here, due to which they visited. The Muslim community has a large population in this area.

‘Delhi or UP people do not consider Marathi’- Abu Azmi

During this time, when Abu Azmi was addressing the media, Marathi journalists urged him to reply in Marathi. On this, the SP leader said, “What is the difference between Marathi and Hindi? I can speak Marathi, but what is the need of Marathi language in Bhiwandi?” With this, he said that ‘Marathi statements’ will not be understood in places like Delhi or Uttar Pradesh.

‘Raj Thackeray’s MNS will give in his language’

Paresh Chaudhary, president of Thane district unit of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), objected to this comment. He said, “Abu Azmi, you are in the politics of Maharashtra. When you are in the politics of Maharashtra, why do you worry about the people of Uttar Pradesh? Bhiwandi is in Maharashtra. Only Marathi will work here. If you feel embarrassed to speak Marathi, we will answer you in the style of MNS.”

What did Sharad Pawar faction say?

Suresh Mhatre, Lok Sabha member of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar) from Bhiwandi, emphasized the importance of Marathi language and suggested that it would be better to speak the language of the place where you are.

The statement of Maharashtra Samajwadi Party President Abu Azmi has come out regarding the ‘I Love Muhammad’ controversy released in Uttar Pradesh. Taking a dig at the BJP, he said that the government has taken the initiative to marginalize Muslims and ruin them.

Abu Azmi said, “Nobody should stop saying ‘I Love Muhammad’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’. Everyone has the freedom to show love for their religion or religious texts. Everyone has the freedom to love on their own. But if a Muslim does so, there is objection to them. How can action be against them?”

VIDEO | When asked about ‘I love muhammad’ row, maharashtra samajwadi party president abu azmi (@abuasimazmi) Says, “Nobody Should Stop” I Love Muhammad “and” har har mahadev. pic.twitter.com/S4CSCR37XF

– Press Trust of India (@Pti_News) September 30, 2025

He further said, “Recently it happened in Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar), where people wrote it on the ground and trampled it. If the Muslims saw, the cases were filed. If a Muslim celebrates, you will send him to jail. The government will send him to jail. The government has taken up the Muslims to marginalize and ruin them.

On the match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup match, SP MLA Abu Azmi said that the people here did not want this match. So many people were killed by terrorists (22 April 2025) and these terrorists came from Pakistan. Even after this, a match is being held with Pakistan. He questioned that the benefit of this match and advertisement, will the government give this entire money to those families whose people were killed in the terrorist attack? If this government gives all the money to the victim families, then some tears can dissolve. He said that he will write a letter to the government and demand to give money to the families of the victims.

Questions asked to Asaduddin Owaisi

Abu Azmi further said that after this terrorist attack, Operation went on vermilion. Many people (MPs) were sent abroad from the country. Our Muslim leader Asaduddin Owaisi was sent to explain to Muslim countries. What did these people explain to Muslim countries? Our people went to highlight Pakistan’s terrorism all over the world. Saudi Arabia joined hands with Pakistan that their army would work together. This agreement should have been with India. What work did Asaduddin Owaisi go there?

What did the new GST say when the new rates were implemented?

New GST rates were implemented on many things in the country from today. On this, the SP MLA said that the government cannot take a credit for it. Why did the government keep separate GST for so many days? The country is being destroyed in poverty and you put GST on everything milk and curd. Now if the election comes, you are reducing it.

Further, he said, “Winning the vote somewhere, win through all these things. I think all this is happening only to win the election. Keep GST for so many days and answer it first. Why was there so much pressure on the public’s pocket? The government had forcefully put GST for so many days.

A political controversy has arisen between India and Pakistan on 14 September in Dubai. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced to agitate against this match. This movement has been supported by Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP). In Maharashtra, SP President and MLA Abu Azmi said that terrorists come from Pakistan, how can the match be held?

He told the news agency ANI, “There was such a big terrorist attack in Pahalgam, so many people were killed. After that the government said that we will deal with Pakistan. 140 crore people were standing with the government. Turki supported Pakistan, we boycotted the goods. China supported Pakistan and we are befriending him. This double policy is not understood. Playing the match with Pakistan, something is black in lentils. Terrorists come from Pakistani, how can the match be done. I support Sanjay Raut. ”

What did Sanjay Raut say?

Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said that the party will conduct sindoor defense campaign against the Indo-Pak match. He said on Thursday (11 September), “Operation vermilion is not over yet. The vermilion of women was destroyed in Pahalgam. His anguish, his anger did not end. Even today he is in shock. You are going to play cricket with Pakistan. It is shameless. This is treason.

How will blood and cricket run together?- Sanjay Raut

He said, “My question is from BJP, RSS, Bajrang Dal whether you have a role in it or not. The government will say anything. You said that you will not have any kind of relationship with Pakistan. You said that water and blood will not flow together. How will blood and cricket run together? Shiv Sena (UBT) has decided that we will oppose it. Our women will come on the road. We are going to run sindoor defense campaign. Thousands of women will send Narendra Modi to vermilion. You do politics on vermilion, we will remind this. The children of BJP ministers will go to watch the match. This is treason.

The statement made by Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Samajwadi Party MP and Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav has made political mercury high. Maulana Sajid Rashidi, president of All India Imam Association, made derogatory remarks on Dimple Yadav’s dress in a TV show Debate. On this, SP MLA Abu Azmi of Maharashtra has been enraged.

While sharing a video, Abu Azmi said, “When a few coins are found, Sajid Rashidi comes and sits on the TV and starts speaking for the Muslim community, but in reality he is behind the curtain. He is the supporter of the BJP. He had also asked for votes for the last time. Such people are commenting about Dimple Yadav?”

Expressing displeasure, Abu Azmi said, “Dimple Yadav is an elected MP and is the daughter -in -law of Mulayam Singh Yadav. She wears in the house, she also worn in the mosque. The sari is the dress of Hindus, who is seen in a honor.”

‘Sajid Rashidi is a stigma in the name of Maulana’- Abu Azmi
In such a situation, while addressing Sajid Rashidi, Abu Azmi further said, “You are not ashamed? How did you dare to speak about the daughter -in -law of such a big leader and the wife of such a big leader? You should remove Maulana in your name. You guys are stigmatized in the name of Maulana. You only want fame, shame and stop doing this kind of brokerage.”

For a few coins, ‘Maulana’ should be removed from the name of BJP’s Sajid Rashidi, who is sitting on TV.#DimpleyADAV #Akhileshyadav #Samajwadiparty #Sajidrashidi #Abuasimazmi pic.twitter.com/d8hfpkqq5vj

– Abu Asim Azmi (@abuasimazmi) July 29, 2025

‘Sajid Rashidi wants to make Muslim angry with SP’
Maharashtra Samajwadi Party President Abu Azmi said that Sajid Rashidi only wants Muslims to be affected by his statement and get angry with the Samajwadi Party. If he understands this, then know that Muslims will not be angry with this. Our mosques are also made to work in Parliament and Assembly. If there is a good thing in our mosques, then it is not wrong.

Abu Azmi clarified that Akhilesh Yadav did not go to the mosque to talk about business. Imam saheb lives in the same mosque. When he got an hour’s time with him, he urged him to drink tea with us. This caused Sajid Rashidi to suffer a lot because he was not called? Abu Azmi said that he should be ashamed before making such statements.

What did Sajid Rashidi say?
Actually, in a TV show debate, Sajid Rashidi made an objectionable statement, “I show a photo, which will be shy to see. I will not know anyone but everyone knows, Mohtarma was with him, he was in his Muslim dress. His head was covered. The second Mohtarma was Dimmal Yadav. Seeing the photo of his back.