MIM corporator Saher Sheikh's father named Cable Sena chief for Kalwa-Mumbra, denies joining Shiv Sena

A fresh round of talk has begun in Mumbra politics. Yunus Sheikh, father of AIMIM corporator Saher Sheikh, has been appointed president of the Akhil Bharatiya Cable Sena for the Kalwa-Mumbra assembly constituency. After the news emerged, talk went around that he had joined the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Yunus Sheikh has rejected the claim.

The talk began with a photograph. A photo of Yunus Sheikh being felicitated at a Shiv Sena office went viral on social media. It shows Shiv Sena office-bearers honouring him. Soon after, it began to be said that he had joined Shinde's Shiv Sena.

According to the appointment letter, Yunus Sheikh has been appointed for one year as president of the Akhil Bharatiya Cable Sena for the Kalwa-Mumbra assembly constituency. The letter mentions the leadership of Eknath Shinde and also carries instructions related to strengthening the Shiv Sena organisation.

After the reports of his joining the party, Yunus Sheikh put his side across in a video. He said, "I have not joined the Shiv Sena." According to him, his family has run a cable business for about 40 years and he is also associated with internet services. He said the Akhil Bharatiya Cable Sena appointment is an organisational responsibility linked to the business and does not mean he has joined the Shiv Sena party. He also said he would work to bring together cable operators and internet service providers in the Kalwa-Mumbra area.

Saher Sheikh won the Thane Municipal Corporation election from Ward No. 30 on an AIMIM ticket. At a gathering after the election, she had taken aim at opponents, saying "how we defeated you". In the same speech she had spoken of making the whole of Mumbra green in the next five years, which led to a political controversy. Saher Sheikh had then clarified that the statement referred to the green colour of the AIMIM party and the party's expansion.

Yunus Sheikh was earlier considered close to Jitendra Awhad, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). In the Thane municipal election he had sought a nomination from the Nationalist Congress Party for his daughter Saher Sheikh. When the nomination was not given, Saher Sheikh contested on an AIMIM ticket and won. After the win, Yunus Sheikh and Saher Sheikh strongly criticised Jitendra Awhad. Political differences between the two sides had come out in the open over the denial of the nomination.

Jitendra Awhad has had political influence in the Mumbra-Kalwa area. Saher Sheikh's win for AIMIM in the same area had started fresh discussion in local politics. Now Yunus Sheikh's appointment as president of a cable organisation linked to the Shiv Sena has given the development political significance. However, since he himself has denied joining the party, the difference between the appointment and an official party entry is important. Political circles are watching what happens next in Mumbra's local politics.