Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM makes impressive debut in Maharashtra poll, wins 2 seats

, Oct 18: The Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (

) made an impressive debut in the

where it won in two seats.

In Byculla, Mumbai, AIMIM's Warish Yusuf Pathan (25,314 votes) trounced BJP strongman Madhukar G. Chavan and Akhil Bharatiya Sena's Geeta Gawli.

Journalist Imtiyaz Jalil was elected from Aurangabad Central, defeating his nearest Shiv Sena rival Pradeep Jaiswal by 30,000 votes, said party spokesperson Danish Reyaz, IANS reported.

In Aurangabad East, AIMIM's Abdul Gaffar Kadari lost to BJP's Atul More by over over 15,000 votes.

In Nanded South, AIMIM's Moin Akhtar lost to Shiv Sena's Hemanth Sriram Patil.

The AIMIM fielded candidates from 24 seats in the state, including 16 in Mumbai. The party also gave tickets to Shahid Rafi, son of late singer Mohammad Rafi from Mumbadevi. He, however, finished third with 16,165 votes. The seat was won by Congress's Amin Patel.

The AIMIM fielded ex-mayor and sitting NCP corporator Abdul Malik from Malegaon (Central) seat. Owasis and his brother, Akbaruddin, had addressed a rally each in the city ahead of the poll.

Former Maharashtra minister Gangadhar Gade were fielded from Aurangabad (West) seat.

Political observers said the AIMIM aimed to make a dent into the Muslim vote-bank of the Congress and NCP. The local Muslims reportedly wanted to give the AIMIM a chance after they felt that parties like the Congress and NCP did not do much for them.

Oneindia News

[With inputs from IANS]