Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | ISLAM |
| Leader | Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid |
| President | Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid |
| Chairperson | Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid |
| Founder | Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid |
| Ideology | Template:Ulist |
| Political position | Centre |
| ECI Status | Registered |
| Alliance | Malegaon Secular Front(SP) |
The Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra (abbreviated as ISLAM) is a regional political party based in Malegaon, in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, India. It emerged as a significant political force in the 2026 Malegaon Municipal Corporation elections by becoming the single largest party in the civic body.[1]Template:AI-retrieved sourceTemplate:AI-retrieved source
History[edit | edit source]
The party was founded in October 2024 by Shaikh Aasif, a former Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly representing the Malegaon Central constituency. Shaikh had previously been a member of both the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party before launching this new party for the 2024–25 election cycle.[2]
The party's full name — Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra — reflects its stated emphasis on secular principles and broad representation.[3]
Ideology and position[edit | edit source]
While the name suggests an emphasis on secularism and inclusion, political commentators note that the party's appeal in its home base of Malegaon is deeply tied to local socio-religious dynamics and identity politics, particularly in a city with a large Muslim population.[3]
Electoral performance[edit | edit source]
2026 Malegaon Municipal Corporation elections[edit | edit source]
In the 15 January 2026 civic polls, the ISLAM party made its electoral debut and became the single largest party in the 84-member Malegaon Municipal Corporation by winning 35 seats out of 84. It ended decades-long dominance of the Congress in the civic body, though it fell short of the 43-seat majority.[4]
| Election Year | Seats contested | Seats won | ± in seats | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malegaon Municipal Corporation Election | ||||
| 2026 (Debut) |
-- | 35 / 84
|
 35
|
|
The party formed an alliance with the Samajwadi Party, called the Malegaon Secular Front, which together won 40 seats, three short of the majority mark; other parties like AIMIM and Shiv Sena also won significant numbers of seats.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Maharashtra local body polls: ISLAM party ends Congress dominance in Malegaon; gets 35 seats". The Times of India. 2026-01-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
- ↑ "Ex-MLA from Malegaon Central forms new ISLAM party". The Times of India. 2024-10-21. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "What is ISLAM party in Maharashtra? New outfit built on old networks rises to the top in Malegaon". The Indian Express. 2026-01-18. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
- ↑ "Maharashtra local body polls: ISLAM party ends Congress dominance in Malegaon; gets 35 seats". The Times of India. 2026-01-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-02-17.