Mumbai: As counting of votes concludes for the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls, Abu Azmi, the SP candidate from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar seat in Mumbai won the seat by over 12000 votes. NCP leader Nawab Malik ended up as distant third runner-up.
As per the ECI data, Azmi polled 54780 votes against his nearest rival Ateeque Ahmad Khan of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen who polled 42027 while the second runner-up Shiv Sena's Suresh (Bullet) Patil secured 35263. Nawab Malik of the NCP, who was considered as a key contender, ended up being the third runner-up by securing 15501 votes.
The seat has a diverse range of voters including middle class, upper middle class and labourers. The seat was in headlines even before the campaigning started as BJP opposed the candidature of Nawab Malik for his alleged links with Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made it clear that the saffron party would not support Malik not they would campaign for the leader, who is out on bail. The BJP made clear that it will support the candidate fielded by Shiv Sena.
An unfazed Malik, who was given a ticket by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, extensively campaigned to win the polls. It seems that Abu Azmi's strong local connection gave him an edge over others.
The election had become a prestigious fight for Malik.
Read more
