All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday thanked the people of Maharashtra and party workers for the victory in 125 seats in that State’s civic polls even as he ruled out any understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party or the National Democratic Alliance.Addressing a press conference at party headquarters in Darussalaam, Mr. Owaisi said the party secured 33 seats in Aurangabad, 21 in Malegaon, 14 in Nanded, 12 in Amravati, eight in Mumbai and five in Mumbra. “This is the decision of the people,” Mr. Owaisi said, adding that the party would have made more gains in western Maharashtra had it been able to campaign there.He rejected allegations of communalism as levelled by his opponents, and stated that doing so was akin to insulting voters.Mr. Owaisi reiterated that AIMIM corporators should not take policy decisions independently and function within the framework laid down by the party’s standing committees. He cited the suspension of five corporators in Akot who supported a BJP-backed candidate, stressing that the party would not align with the BJP or the NDA under any circumstances.Taking questions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he argued that it had been wrongly linked to questions of citizenship. He underscored that the Election Commission of India had no authority to determine citizenship, which fell exclusively under the purview of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Register of Citizens framework.He said AIMIM had made a representation to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to ensure that documents such as birth certificates and Class X certificates issued through MeeSeva centres were accepted , and that no legitimate voter was removed from the rolls. He said that the case was ongoing in the Supreme Court and it was not clear as to when a judgment would be delivered. “Your right to vote could be taken away. If your name is removed, they can give you a notice. Per rules, if the BLO goes to your house twice and you’re unavailable, then they have the power to send you a notice under Foreigners Act. It is not easy, and people should take this seriously,” he said.The Hyderabad parliamentarian also described reported moves in Uttarakhand to bar non-Hindus from certain areas as unconstitutional and akin to untouchability. “If such laws are brought, then what will happen? Religious rituals will obviously be discharged by representatives from that faith. But if you say: entry is barred in that area, then how will this happen? On what ground will you do this... Where will you take this country?” he said.Published - January 17, 2026 07:29 pm IST