The 56-year-old Jaleel is planning to contest the Aurangabad Central seat of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha bye-elections from Nanded.
For Imtiaz Jaleel, the journalist-turned-politician, who leads the Maharashtra unit of the the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), this election is a big challenge.
The 56-year-old Jaleel is planning to contest the Aurangabad Central seat of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha bye-elections from Nanded.
Just back from Hyderabad after meeting AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, Jaleel said that the party is moving strategically in Maharashtra.
“We will surely win seats, we have a list ready,” Jaleel tells DH’s Mrityunjay Bose in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
You intend to contest for Lok Sabha as well as Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
My party people and supporters want me to contest the two seats. I had represented Aurangabad Central as an MLA for five years from 2014-19. I was the Aurangabad MP from 2019-2024. As regards, Nanded seat is concerned, it was from Nanded, that AIMIM made a grand entry in Maharashtra. My supporters are insisting that I should contest. There is no harm in it.
What about the seats that are with you now.
We have two seats in the outgoing Assembly – Malegaon Central, which is represented by Mufti Ismail and Dhule City which is represented by Shah Faruk Anwar. We have a list ready. I am just back after meeting Owaisi Sahab.
Why have the talks failed with Congress?
The ball is in their court. We had some discussions but at the end the Maharashtra leadership said that the Congress high-command would take a call. Owaisi Saheb will speak to them and take a call.
