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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Malegaon Based Political Party in Maharashtra}}<br />
{{Infobox Indian political party|name=Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra|abbreviation=ISLAM|colorcode=Green|leader=[[Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid]]|chairman=[[Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid]]|president=[[Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid]]|founder=[[Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid]]|eci=Registered|alliance=Malegaon Secular Front([[Samajwadi Party|SP]])|ideology={{ulist|Secularism |Inclusive civic representation |Local governance focus}}|Political position=Centre}}<br />
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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 [[2025–26 Maharashtra local elections|2026 Malegaon Municipal Corporation elections]] by becoming the single largest party in the civic body.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-01-17 |title=Maharashtra local body polls: ISLAM party ends Congress dominance in Malegaon; gets 35 seats |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/maharashtra-local-body-polls-islam-party-ends-congress-dominance-in-malegaon-gets-35-seats/articleshow/126600399.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com|access-date=2026-02-17 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>{{AI-retrieved source|date=February 2026}}{{AI-retrieved source|date=February 2026}}<br />
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== History ==<br />
The party was founded in October 2024 by [[Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid|Shaikh Aasif]], a former Member of the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] representing the [[Malegaon Central Assembly constituency|''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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-10-21 |title=Ex-MLA from Malegaon Central forms new ISLAM party |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/former-mla-asif-shaikh-launches-new-islam-party-in-maharashtra/articleshow/114436962.cms |access-date=2026-02-17 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><br />
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The party's full name — ''Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra'' — reflects its stated emphasis on secular principles and broad representation.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=2026-01-18 |title=What is ISLAM party in Maharashtra? New outfit built on old networks rises to the top in Malegaon |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/the-making-of-islam-in-malegaon-a-new-party-built-on-old-networks-rises-to-the-top-10480907/ |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Ideology and position ==<br />
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.<ref name="auto"/><br />
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== Electoral performance ==<br />
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=== 2026 Malegaon Municipal Corporation elections ===<br />
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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-01-17 |title=Maharashtra local body polls: ISLAM party ends Congress dominance in Malegaon; gets 35 seats |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/maharashtra-local-body-polls-islam-party-ends-congress-dominance-in-malegaon-gets-35-seats/articleshow/126600399.cms |access-date=2026-02-17 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> <br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Style="background-color:green;color:white"| Election Year<br />
! Style="background-color:green;color:white"| Seats contested<br />
! Style="background-color:green;color:white"| Seats won<br />
! Style="background-color:green;color:white"| ± in seats<br />
! Style="background-color:green;color:white"| Remarks<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" |[[Malegaon Municipal Corporation|Malegaon Municipal Corporation Election]]<br />
|-<br />
| 2026<br />{{small|(Debut)}}<br />
| --<br />
| {{Composition bar|35|84|hex=green}}<br />
| {{increase}} 35<br />
| <br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
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.<br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Political parties in Maharashtra]]<br />
[[Category:Secularism in India]]<br />
[[Category:Regionalist parties in India]]<br />
[[Category:2024 establishments in Maharashtra]]<br />
[[Category:Malegaon]]<br />
[[Category:Politics of Nashik district]]<br />
[[Category:Political parties established in 2024]]</div>VanBoas1588