Maharashtra Assembly Election Result: Abu Asim Azmi retains Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat

The Samajwadi Party (SP) retained its stronghold in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar during the Maharashtra assembly elections on Saturday. SP's Abu Asim Azmi secured victory, successfully defending his seat after a tough battle with youngster Ateeque Ahmad Khan of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen. Azmi secured over 54,000 votes. 

Surprisingly, Nawab Malik of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP suffered a major setback, finishing fourth in the race. BJP's Suresh Patil also failed to mount a strong challenge, securing third place.

The Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency in Mumbai North East is likely to witness a close contest as the counting of votes begins on November 23 in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The seat, which has a substantial Muslim population of around 58%, has historically been a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party (SP). However, with several strong contenders in the fray, this year’s election is expected to be highly competitive.

The seat saw a moderately low voter turnout of 52.14%, compared to the state's overall participation rate of 66.05%.

Key contestants: Abu Asim Azmi vs. Suresh Patil

The battle for Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar is primarily between three key candidates: Abu Asim Azmi, the three-term MLA from the Samajwadi Party, and two major challengers – Suresh ‘Bullet’ Patil of the Shiv Sena (Mahayuti alliance) and NCP’s Nawab Malik.

Azmi, a senior leader of the Samajwadi Party and an ally in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), has successfully held onto the seat despite opposition from various parties, including Shiv Sena, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, and independent candidates. His most prominent rival this time is Patil, who is representing the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Nawab Malik, a former minister in the MVA government, is also contesting from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar. Malik, a prominent figure in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was arrested in 2022 in connection with a case involving Dawood Ibrahim and associates but was granted bail in 2023.

Past election results: Azmi’s stronghold

Azmi has been a dominant figure in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar for several years. In the 2019 Assembly elections, he secured a decisive win, defeating his nearest rival, Vithal Govind Lokare of the then-undivided Shiv Sena, by a margin of 25,601 votes. Azmi had also won in 2014 and 2009, consolidating his hold over the constituency.

While Azmi remains a strong contender due to his established base, the competition from Patil and Malik, along with local dynamics and the evolving political situation, makes this a closely watched constituency in the upcoming election.