Praniti Shinde

Mumbai, Nov. 6: The Maharashtra elections behind them, the gloves are off between the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).

Former Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s daughter and MLA Praniti has said the MIM “is an anti-national party” and should be “banned”, prompting Assaduddin Owaisi, the minority outfit’s chief, to warn of a defamation case unless she apologised.

Praniti’s comments, echoed by senior party colleague Narayan Rane, and the retaliation mark an escalation of the tussle after the poll results suggested the MIM had cut into the national party’s votes among minorities, Dalits and other backward classes in many seats. The Hyderabad-based outfit, fighting its first Assembly election in the state, won two of the 24 seats it contested.

Praniti, who faced a seven-cornered fight on family turf Solapur, saw her re-election margin sliced to 9,769 from over 33,000 in 2009. Campaigning for her, Congress leaders had accused the MIM of dividing minority votes but refrained from direct attacks, fearing it could offend many in the community.

Not anymore. “Let me clarify. I didn’t make this statement yesterday. I said this nearly 10 days ago in Solapur after my victory. I expressed my personal opinion,” the 33-year-old who won from Solapur City Central a second time told The Telegraph today.

Praniti accused “top MIM leaders of fanning communalism” through their speeches. “…if they are sowing the seeds of communalism, what do you call them but anti-national. And I am not the only one saying this,” said Praniti, whose nearest rival was the MIM’s Taufik Shekh.

Other MIM leaders termed Praniti’s comments “a sign of panic”.