Mumbai: Mumbra has once again emerged as a political flashpoint in Maharashtra after a victory speech by Sahar Sheikh, the youngest woman councillor elected on an AIMIM ticket, sparked widespread debate across party lines. A video of her address, delivered soon after the BMC and local body election results, has gone viral, drawing sharp reactions from supporters and critics alike.
Just 22 years old, Sahar Sheikh used the post-election felicitation event to assert AIMIM’s growing influence in the region. In a combative speech, she claimed that rival parties had written off AIMIM during the campaign but were proven wrong at the ballot box. According to Sheikh, her party approached the election with careful planning and ground-level mobilisation, which ultimately translated into electoral success.
“In the next election, we will cover Mumbra in green and drive Hindus out!”
— Guruprasad Gowda (@Gp_hjs) January 20, 2026
– threat by newly elected AIMIM corporator Sahar Shaikh.
Will action be taken on this hate speech violating democratic values?
Earlier Kashmir. Now Mumbra. Next Maharashtra? 🚨 pic.twitter.com/MIaUn1WyBi
Using strong imagery, she portrayed her campaign as a battle against overwhelming odds. She suggested that powerful forces were mobilised to stop her rise but failed to break the support she received from voters. Her remarks were seen by many as a direct challenge to established political players in the area.
The speech took a more controversial turn when Sheikh spoke about her long-term political vision for Mumbra. She openly declared that the area should become an AIMIM stronghold over the next five years, asserting that future elections would see only AIMIM candidates dominating the political field. Her reference to “painting Mumbra green” quickly became the most discussed line from the speech, triggering concerns among opponents about polarising language and aggressive political positioning.
Sheikh also alleged that her party faced financial muscle and behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring during the campaign, but said voters rejected such tactics. She credited the AIMIM symbol, the kite, for resonating with the electorate and becoming a rallying point for supporters.
Touching upon her political background, Sheikh referred to senior leaders Iqbal Sheikh and Yunus Sheikh, portraying herself as part of a larger movement rooted in local struggles and community engagement. She framed her victory as not just personal success but a continuation of what she described as a long-standing grassroots legacy.
Another point that drew attention was her reference to the large number of NOTA votes in Mumbra. Sheikh noted that nearly 12,000 voters opted for ‘None of the Above,’ a figure she said even surpassed the votes polled by some established party symbols. She interpreted this as a sign of growing voter dissatisfaction with mainstream political options and an openness to alternatives.
