In order to counter the inroads that the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is making into Maharashtra, the state Congress is planning to depute party workers in Muslim-dominated Assembly constituencies and are willing to “expose” the Hyderabad-based outfit.
A senior Congress leader said there are 130 Assembly constituencies in the state and each one of them has 25,000 to one lakh Muslim voters.
“Our team of five office-bearers would be deputed in each of the constuencies to expose the AIMIM, who is hand in glove with the BJP and whose only role is to polarise the society,” the leader said on condition of anonymity.
State Congress chief Ashok Chavan today chaired a preliminary strategy meeting with prominent Muslim party office-bearers from all the districts.
In the Assembly polls last year, AIMIM hurt Congress’ prospects in a few seats, including Mumbai, where Congress had to finish a poor third in constituencies like Byculla and Bandra east.
In the Bandra East by-election early this year, even Congress heavyweight Narayan Rane had to suffer a defeat against Shiv Sena candidate due to AIMIM cutting into the Congress votes.
AIMIM has made inroads in Nanded and Aurangabad civic bodies as well and the party won two seats in last year’s Assembly polls.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls are scheduled in early 2017.