Split in saffron ranks may benefit MIM party

The news of a split between Shiv Sena and BJP ahead of the BMC polls is music for the ears of parties like MIM and SP that depend not just on Muslim votes, but also wish for a division in Hindutva ranks. Leaders in the two parties said the split in the Sangh Parivar will benefit MIM.

MIM which has two MLAs fighting the BMC elections for the first time. Its Byculla candidate in the 2014 assembly poll won with a margin of 1,357 votes by defeating Congress's Madhukar Chavan. Pathan had benefited in a multi-cornered fight where Maharashtrian votes got divided among Congress, BJP (Madhukar G Chavan) and Akhil Bharatiya Sena's (Geeta Gawli). MIM would like the similar trend to be repeated in the BMC polls. "MIM will benefit in the sense that anti-MIM votes will get divided as we are not eying just Muslim votes. We have given tickets to Dalits too and their support will benefit us," said Pathan.