Muslims Kick Out Congress At Bhiwandi, Malegaon

The verdict of municipal polls in two powerloom towns of Bhiwandi and Malegaon, though fractured, indicate that Muslims have found an alternative in the newly formed Indian Muslim Congress in Malegaon, which emerged as the single-largest party while Bhiwandi preferred SP to Congress. The Muslim-dominated powerloom town Malegaon in North Maharashtra with 70% Muslim population sprung a surprise by voting for IMC which emerged as single largest party in the municipal polls bagging 27 of the total 72 seats. Congress got just 15 seats. In Bhiwandi, 60 km from Bombay, facing economic crisis due to closure of powerlooms, the result was no different for the Congress. Of the total 84 seats, it won only 4. SP, under the aggressive leadership of Abu Azmi, MP, emerged the single largest. The local bodies election in Malegaon and Bhiwandi proves Muslim alienation from the 120 year old Congress.