Shiv Sena Candidate Stabbed in Bandra as BMC Poll Tensions Boil Over
Eknath Shinde faction’s Ward 92 nominee attacked during door-to-door campaign days before Mumbai civic polls.
GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 8th Jan: Political tensions in Maharashtra surged sharply on Wednesday after Haji Salim Qureshi, the official Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) candidate from Ward No. 92, was stabbed while campaigning in Bandra East, raising serious security concerns ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
The incident took place in the Dnyaneshwar Nagar locality of Bandra East, where Qureshi was conducting a door-to-door outreach programme. According to preliminary information, unidentified assailants intercepted him during the campaign and stabbed him in the stomach before fleeing the spot.
Qureshi was rushed to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. Doctors said his condition is being closely monitored.
The attack triggered panic and anger among supporters of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, who gathered in large numbers at the site and nearby areas, alleging a major security lapse. Police have since deployed additional forces across the ward to prevent any escalation.
A senior police officer said the area has been cordoned off and CCTV footage is being examined to identify the attackers. “The motive is under investigation and all possible angles, including political rivalry, are being probed,” the officer said.
The incident comes at a sensitive time as polling for the BMC elections is scheduled for January 15, with counting on January 16. It also follows another flare-up earlier in the day in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where AIMIM leader and former MP Imtiaz Jaleel’s campaign convoy was allegedly targeted by a mob. Jaleel later accused rival political forces of trying to intimidate voters.
With just days left for polling, Maharashtra has witnessed a rise in confrontations, heated exchanges and physical clashes among party workers, prompting police to place sensitive zones on high alert and urge all political parties to exercise restraint.
