Maulana Luqman Nadwi, spokesperson of the Companion of Peace & Justice, Mumbai, and a prominent voice in the city’s religio-political circles, has voiced serious questions about the future of Muslim political representation as Mumbai heads into corporation elections.
Speaking on political developments since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Nadwi said the INDIA alliance came together ahead of the polls, uniting several parties, including Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction from Maharashtra, the NCP, and others.
He said Muslims not only supported the alliance but did so with full commitment, voting decisively to ensure the alliance’s victory and to curb communal forces.
According to him, this support contributed to the election of three MPs from Mumbai representing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Nadwi further stated that during the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in November 2024, local ulema openly appealed for votes in favour of the same alliance.
He said that after internal discussions, the ulema collectively decided to back the INDIA alliance to defeat communalism and keep communal forces away from power.
Maulana Luqman Nadwi noted that the alliance secured significant seats, including those won by the Thackeray faction.
Turning to the upcoming corporation elections, Nadwi expressed unease over Uddhav Thackeray’s reported understanding with Raj Thackeray.
He said this development has created anxiety among Muslims because Raj Thackeray, in his words, has never aligned with secular forces and has used communal rhetoric, including speeches targeting Muslims from mosque loudspeakers.
Nadwi questioned whether, after this alliance, Uddhav Thackeray would continue to project a secular image and maintain the same relationship with Muslim voters. He recalled past assurances made to minorities and asked whether those commitments would still hold.
History of Muslim Support in Civic Politics
Referring to the long history of Muslim support for Shiv Sena in municipal politics, Nadwi said many Muslims consistently voted for the party, including during Balasaheb Thackeray’s era, contributing to its three-decade-long rule in the civic body.
Looking ahead, Nadwi directly asked whether the Shiv Sena-led alliance would propose a Muslim candidate for mayor or at least for the post of deputy mayor if it forms the corporation government.
He said Muslims had supported the alliance based on promises of fair treatment and non-retaliation, and now expect political representation in return.
Maulana Luqman Nadwi said the community’s demand is clear: the alliance should appoint a Muslim as mayor or, at the very least, give the post of deputy mayor to a Muslim.
Nadwi said Muslims had stood by the alliance in the past and would respond with goodwill if treated justly, but warned that repeated neglect would amount to ingratitude.
Concluding his remarks, Nadwi said that if the forthcoming government honours these expectations, it would be seen as acknowledging Muslim support. Otherwise, he remarked, the community would be forced to reassess what it can realistically expect from its political allies.
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