Fazal Pathan/Mumbai

Muslim votes are going to play a decisive role in more than 25 assembly constituencies of Maharashtra which goes to polls on November 20. However, the likely split of Muslim votes in constituencies where there is more than one Muslim candidate is a possibility.

Of the constituencies that have a sizeable or dominant population of Muslims, the Anushaktinagar seat is likely to see a hot contest.

The Anushaktinagar Assembly Constituency has about 30 percent Muslim population. The region has been dominated by the Malik family for the past several decades. Since 2004, Nawab Malik of NCP has been representing this area.

In 2022, the Shiv Sena, and the NCP also split and Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar set up their separate factions of the party Nawab Malik supported Ajit Pawar.

While the. Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress has fielded Nawab Malik's daughter Sana Malik, and rival Sharad Pawar has fielded new face Fahad Ahmed, the husband of actor Swara Bhaskar. The contest is prestigious for both sides since it is also a battle for supremacy between Uncle Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar.

Sana Malik came to be known for her social work during the Corona period. After Nawab Malik went to jail, Sana Malik took charge of her father's constituency. It is said that he made special efforts to solve the problems of the people of the area. He helps the poor and needy through his Rahbar Foundation Trust.

When the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP gave her the ticket to contest in the Assembly elections, Sana Malik said, "I have done development work in the area along with my father and managed the area in his absence. At that time the people of the area showed faith in me. I am happy to get the ticket, but it is also a big responsibility for me. Fight with full strength and win."

Fahad Ahmed has done his M Phil from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. During campaigning, he often flaunts his political background. His father Zirar Ahmed is a local leader of the Samajwadi Party in Aligarh, UP.

While studying at TISS, Fahad joined student protests. He protested for a fee waiver for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students. He was also a leader in anti-CAA and NRC movements. Fahd's wife Swara Bhaskar, is known for voicing her views on various social and political issues. She is also actively campaigning for Fahad.

Fahad Ahmed joined the Samajwadi Party in 2022 in the presence of MLA Abu Azmi and Raees Sheikh. However, this is his maiden election.

Anushaktinagar is a Muslim-dominated area that has been electing a Muslim candidate for the past several decades, This time the main contest is between Sana Malik and Fahad Ahmed, which is likely to split the Muslim vote.

Sana Malik is the candidate of Mahayuti (NDA). As the BJP has taken a stance against Nawab Malik because of the criminal cases against him, Sana Malik may not get the votes of hardcore BJP and Shiv Sena voters,

As Acharya Vidyadhar is contesting the election from MNS and in case the Muslim votes split between Sana and Fahad, it could become a possibility for a third-party candidate to win.

The constituency has everything from slums to big companies like BPCL, IPCL, and HPCL. And even the Bhabha Atomic Research Center.

Social activist Aamir Qazi says, "Despite the big companies having offices here, the local youth are not getting jobs. We wanted to build a skill development center, but it has not happened."

He said, "Anushaktinagar is geographically a big area, but there are no good schools and colleges here. The youth are in the grip of drug addiction. Roads and sewers are incomplete. Health hazards have increased due to lack of waste management." Muslims here are deprived of development."

A resident Rehan Patel says, "Muslims have always voted based on development and social unity. We do not vote for candidates based on their religion. We will vote for those who work for our security and development."

He said, "We believe in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Shiv, Shahu, Phule, and Ambedkar, this is Maharashtra, where people of all castes and religions live together. Some leaders are spreading false propaganda like 'vote jihad' to defame us. We should understand that we have voted for candidates of every party including BJP-Shiv Sena.

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Issues such as the stalled development projects of Anushaktinagar, unemployment, lack of punishment, and security of the Muslim community are at the center of the election this time. The candidate who convincingly promises to solve these problems will win.