Fazal Pathan/Pune

As the Maharashtra Assembly election date draws close, former Malegaon MLA Asif Shaikh has launched a new political party called 'Indian Secular Party' after leaving Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

This new party is the talk of the town in Malegaon which has more than 80% Muslim population,.

Speaking to Awaz-the Voice, Marathi, former MLA Asif Shaikh said, "I was earlier in Congress and then joined Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). I have been working with progressive ideology both as a social worker and in politics from the beginning. After working in both these parties, I realized that no political party is keen to work in the interest of minorities, especially the Muslim community. The Muslim community is backward in every aspect. Apart from this, atrocities on Muslims are also increasing.”

He further said, "If one has to raise voice for Muslims in the state assembly, one must become an MLA. A Muslim worker is always under pressure in political parties. For this reason, no political leader of Maharashtra is seen raising the issues of Muslims. I formed the 'Indian Secular Party' to raise the issues of minorities fearlessly. My party is secular and represents all castes and communities. I will try to bring the issues of the Muslim community before the government."

Local journalist and political analyst Jalil Shaikh said, "Asif Shaikh had earlier founded a party named Islam.  On learning of this, Muslim religious leaders of Malegaon met Asif Shaikh and persuaded him to change its name to 'Indian Secular Party'."

Asif Shaikh is a former MLA from Malegaon Central Assembly constituency. Asif contested from the Congress party in 2014 and defeated Maulana Mufti.

In 2019, he contested for the second time, but last time he was defeated by MIM candidate Maulana Mufti. Asif resigned from the Congress party in 2021 and joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. Last month he withdrew his support to NCP and announced to contest independently.

Asif Shaikh is the only candidate of his new party to contest the upcoming assembly elections. He is contesting from the Malegaon Central.

On the issues, he wishes to raise in the election campaign, Asif Shaikh said, 'The all-round development of Malegaon is my main agenda. We are working in this direction. I will contest this election on the basis of various development works I got executed. Like my father, I have made a big contribution to the development of Malegaon city.''

He further said, "The leaders in the state always do not take any special steps for the Muslims. I will raise my voice for the development of the Malegaon region and the minority community of Maharashtra. Some people use abusive language about different castes and religions, especially the Muslim community, for their political interests. I will demand a law to take action against such people. I will also work for the early implementation of the just 5% reservation in education and employment to the Muslim community."

 Asif Shaikh said, "At present our scope is limited to Malegaon Central Assembly constituency. “The enthusiasm of my party workers is high. After the election results are out, I will expand the party across the state. I will also focus on the elections of local self-government institutions in the coming time."

Asif Shaikh has a strong support base in Malegaon as he is considered one of the popular leaders of the area.

He built an Urdu house in his assembly constituency with the help of the Maharashtra government. Apart from this, he has been distributing free books to poor children for the last five years.

He has also built a flyover at a cost of Rs 25 crore in Malegaon.

About 11.56% of the voters in Maharashtra are Muslims. Muslim voters play a decisive role in 38 of the 288 legislative Assembly constituencies.

The Malegaon Central Assembly constituency is the largest Muslim-dominated area in Maharashtra. Muslim candidates always win the elections here. Now, with the arrival of another party, the assembly elections will be even more exciting.

Asif Shaikh is pitted against his old rival and the current MLA Maulana Mufti (MIM) in the Malegoan central constituency. Others contesting on the seat are Shan-e-Hind, Samajwadi Party, and Ejaz Beg, Congress.

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In Maharashtra the electoral contest for the state elections is among three major alliances: Mahavikas Aghadi, Mahayuti and the Alliance of Bacchu Kadu, Raju Shetty, and Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati.