Shiv Sena candidate stabbed during Mumbai BMC campaign, police probe political rivalry angle

Mumbai: Tensions in Mumbai have surged ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections after Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) candidate Haji Salim Qureshi was stabbed while campaigning in Bandra on Wednesday.

The attack took place in the Dnyaneshwar Nagar locality of Bandra East. Qureshi, the official candidate from Ward No. 92, was conducting a door-to-door campaign when unidentified assailants intercepted him. During the assault, the attackers allegedly stabbed him in the stomach before fleeing the scene.

Qureshi was immediately taken to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, where he is undergoing medical treatment. Authorities are closely monitoring his condition.

The incident triggered unrest among supporters of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, who gathered in large numbers, expressing outrage and pointing to serious lapses in security.

A senior police official said, “We have cordoned off the area and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the attackers. The motive behind the assault is currently under investigation, and we are looking into all possible angles, including the possibility of political rivalry.”

With the BMC elections scheduled for January 15 and vote counting on January 16, this stabbing marks a disturbing escalation in a campaign already marred by violence.