"BJP did not achieve '400 paar' because of Muslims; ready to support INDIA bloc": AIMIM Imtiaz Jaleel

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 19 : AIMIM Maharashtra Chief Imtiaz Jaleel on Monday that the BJP did not achieve '400 paar' because of the Muslims who voted for the INDIA bloc, adding that he and his party are ready to support the opposition bloc INDIA to defeat the BJP.
Jaleel told ANI that the INDIA bloc is habouring a false notion that they will be able to achieve good seats in the Maharashtra Assembly Polls but they are unaware that it is not Lok Sabha elections as votes will be cast on local issues.
He said, "BJP did not achieve '400 paar' because of the Muslims who voted to INDIA alliance by standing for two hours in a queue in that scorching heat, but what did they get in response? They were beaten in their own homes in Kolhapur. You haven't given one single seat to Muslims out of 12 state council seats. When the Waqf Bill came into Lok Sabha, how the entire Shiv Sena (UBT) ran away."
Imtiaz Jaleel also mentioned that he is ready to support the INDIA alliance.
"I am ready to come with you. I am also ready to fight with you with full strength to defeat the BJP. INDIA bloc feels that just like they got good votes in Lok Sabha, they will get good votes in Vidhan Sabha as well. This is wrong because assembly elections are fought entirely on local issues. If they clear up their misconception, then maybe they will call us," he added.
"Today everyone has understood how important Muslim votes are and we can become kingmakers too," he added.
A scuffle and verbal altercation also broke out at the press conference of AIMIM Maharashtra chief Imtiaz Jaleel. The altercation ensued when Faiyaz Ahmed Khan was replaced by Raiees Lashkaria as the Mumbai AIMIM chief and supporters of Faiyaz Ahmed Khan registered their protest.
Speaking on it, Jaleel said, "I am surprised that you (Faiyaz Ahmed) came to know that there is a B team. Just because we have removed you from the post, you started linking us to some other party. In politics, you have to make space for others. He has to contest elections and hence we said that let's give the responsibility of Mumbai to some other person... Decisions on him will be taken by the party chief Asaduddin Owaisi, but one thing is there if discipline isn't maintained, the party won't move ahead."
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Friday said that the high demand for security forces in Jammu and Kashmir is the primary reason for not holding elections in Maharashtra.
He further cited rainfall and the series of festivals that are scheduled in the state.
"There are other factors. Rainfall in Maharashtra and the spate of festivals in the state, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Pitrapaksh, Navratri and Diwali, affect the election schedule. All that put together, we thought this is what we can handle, two elections at a time. And it is within six months of the term of the assembly ending, he added.
The Lok Sabha polls 2024 have given a boost to the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) winning seven seats, the Congress 13, and the NCP-SP one, taking the total tally of the alliance 17.