Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra

Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra
Abbreviation	ISLAM
Leader	Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid
President	Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid
Chairman	Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid
Founder	Shaikh Aasif Shaikh Rashid
Ideology	Secularism Inclusive civic representation Local governance focus
Political position	Left to Centre
ECI Status	Registered
Alliance	Malegaon Secular Front(SP)
Politics of India Political parties Elections

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 2026 Malegaon Municipal Corporation elections by becoming the single largest party in the civic body. ^{[1] [ AI-retrieved source ]}

History

The party was founded in October 2024 by Shaikh Aasif, a former Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly representing the 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. ^[2]

The party’s full name — Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra — reflects its stated emphasis on secular principles and broad representation. ^[3]

Ideology and Position

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. ^[4]

Electoral Performance

2026 Malegaon Municipal Corporation Elections

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. ^[5]

Election Year	Seats contested	Seats won	± in seats	Remarks
Malegaon Municipal Corporation Election
2026 (Debut)	--	35 / 84	35

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

1. "Maharashtra local body polls: ISLAM party ends Congress dominance in Malegaon; gets 35 seats". The Times of India. 2026-01-17. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2026-02-17.
2. "Ex-MLA from Malegaon Central forms new ISLAM party". The Times of India. 2024-10-21. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2026-02-17.
3. "What is ISLAM party in Maharashtra? New outfit built on old networks rises to the top in Malegaon". The Indian Express. 2026-01-18. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
4. "What is ISLAM party in Maharashtra? New outfit built on old networks rises to the top in Malegaon". The Indian Express. 2026-01-18. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
5. "Maharashtra local body polls: ISLAM party ends Congress dominance in Malegaon; gets 35 seats". The Times of India. 2026-01-17. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2026-02-17.