Hello Mumbai City Desk
Minority Leaders Question Uddhav Thackeray’s Credibility as Support Shifts Towards Eknath Shinde in BMC Elections
Mumbai 12 th January:
Amid the ongoing Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election campaign, concerns are being raised by minority community leaders over former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s declining credibility among minorities, while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appears to be gaining growing acceptance.
In an effort to understand the facts and ground realities surrounding recent political developments, the Hello Mumbai News Team held detailed interactions with Muslim scholars, senior journalists, and prominent religious leaders from different parts of the city.
Speaking to Hello Mumbai News, Allama Maulana Bunei, General Secretary, All India Ulema Board,stated that Uddhav Thackeray has lost the trust of the minority community primarily due to two major political decisions. “First, his separation from the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance, and second, his decision to join hands with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for the BMC elections,” he said.
Maulana Bunei further pointed out that the Muslim community remains uncomfortable with MNS leader Raj Thackeray, particularly due to controversies surrounding the mosque loudspeaker issue. “This alliance has created dissatisfaction among minorities,” he added.
Another minority leader and Doctor by Profession Dr.Badrul Hasan says,’Uddhav Thackeray’s success in the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections was largely due to the support of Mahavikas Aghadi partners — the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). “Without the alliance, the trust has significantly eroded,” .
In contrast, Eknath Shinde’s decision to field 11 Muslim candidates across Mumbai has been widely welcomed by minority leaders. Observers believe this move reflects a serious effort to address minority representation and issues. Comparatively, the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction has fielded only five Muslim candidates in the BMC elections.
“No doubt, Eknath Shinde is gaining popularity because of this step. By allotting 11 tickets to Muslim candidates, he has demonstrated genuine concern for the minority community,” said Abdul Qayyum Shaikh (Mustaqim Makki Editor of ‘ Huda Times and Chairman ‘Huda Social Front “This is a significant difference.”
Mr Mustaqim Makki further states, Eknath Shinde as a dynamic and aggressive leader whose working style is resonating with voters. “We do not know how many of these candidates will win, but it is clear that Eknath Shinde will secure more minority votes than Uddhav Thackeray,”
Political analysts believe that Shinde’s growing popularity among minorities could pose a serious challenge to the Shiv Sena (UBT) in the upcoming BMC polls, potentially altering traditional voting patterns in several wards.
As the elections draw closer, minority support is emerging as a key factor that may influence the final outcome of Mumbai’s civic battle.
Haroon Khan Praises Eknath Shinde, Calls Him a True Supporter of the Minority Community
Haroon Khan, a four-time corporator from Vikhroli and a senior political leader with over 25 years of experience in Maharashtra politics, has strongly praised Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, describing him as a true supporter of the minority community.
Speaking to Hello Mumbai News, Khan said that during his long political journey, he has worked closely with several prominent leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray. However, he claimed that it was only after joining the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and working closely with Eknath Shinde that he witnessed concrete efforts aimed at the welfare of the Muslim community.
Haroon Khan highlighted the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’, introduced during Eknath Shinde’s tenure as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, stating that the scheme has significantly benefited women from minority communities. “Due to this scheme, women from the minority community are happy and are gradually becoming economically stronger,” he said.
He also praised the ‘Aapla Dawakhana’ scheme, calling it highly popular among economically weaker sections. According to Khan, people from various communities are benefiting from the initiative, which provides affordable healthcare to the poor.
Further emphasizing Shinde’s inclusive approach, Khan said that Eknath Shinde believes in the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, which is why a large number of Muslims are joining and supporting his party.
In contrast, Haroon Khan expressed dissatisfaction with Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), stating that despite being associated with the party earlier, he did not see substantial work done for the minority community at the grassroots level. “There were talks, but no visible work on the ground,” he alleged.
Khan also stated that the Muslim community does not support Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). He added that Uddhav Thackeray’s alliance with MNS had upset many members of the Muslim community, leading to disappointment and dissatisfaction.
Muslim Community Upset with Uddhav Thackeray–MNS Alliance; Congress Remains First Choice, Says Sayed Salman
Senior journalist and former News Editor of Sahara Samay Mumbai, Sayed Salman, has observed that a section of the Muslim community is dissatisfied with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray following his alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Despite this discontent, he noted that the Congress party continues to remain the first political choice for the Muslim community.
Speaking on emerging political trends ahead of the elections, Salman said that while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has the potential to emerge as a preferred leader among Muslims, it is unlikely to happen immediately after the current election results.
“Eknath Shinde has fielded 11 Muslim candidates, which clearly indicates his intent to expand his outreach within the minority community. However, trust cannot be built overnight, especially since he remains an alliance partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” Salman pointed out.
He further added that the community’s future support for Shinde would largely depend on the performance of these Muslim candidates. “If these candidates win the elections and actively work for the welfare of the community, it could gradually build confidence. In such a scenario, strong Muslim support for Eknath Shinde in the future cannot be ruled out,” he said.
Salman also highlighted that in Muslim-dominated areas such as Jogeshwari, Malad–Malvani, and Bandra East, Eknath Shinde is witnessing increasing popularity. This, he attributed, is primarily due to the presence and grassroots engagement of Muslim candidates representing his faction.
Political observers believe that while immediate shifts in community support may be limited, the current electoral strategy could have long-term implications for minority politics in Maharashtra.
