A small portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed in her office has pushed 42 year old Shaan e Hind Nihal Ahmed from municipal politics into the centre of a statewide confrontation.
The Deputy Mayor of Malegaon found herself at the heart of a political storm after the portrait, visible during a television interview, sparked protests, drew in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and led to a police case against Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal over remarks linked to the row. Violence followed in Pune.
“I don’t think I have done anything wrong by putting up a photo of Tipu Sultan who is a patriot. He is not some terrorist. He is a person who fought the British for his homeland and laid down his life. I see no issues in putting his picture up,” Hind says.
Whether the move was conviction or calculation is debated in Malegaon. Hind is no political novice. She is a three time corporator and the daughter of the late Nihal Ahmed, a five time Janata Dal MLA who dominated the city’s politics for decades. Local lore recalls how he once sidestepped a ban on political gatherings by sitting on a chair in the middle of a market while supporters walked alongside him, turning a rally into a moving speech.
Malegaon’s politics has long revolved around two families, that of Nihal Ahmed and that of the late Congress leader Shaikh Rasheed. Civic and Assembly power alternated between them. Nihal Ahmed was Malegaon’s first Mayor after it became a Municipal Corporation in 2002. Hind’s mother, Sajeda Nihal Ahmed, earlier headed the Municipal Council.
A law graduate, Hind was groomed to carry forward the family legacy alongside her brother Buland Iqbal. The deaths of both her father and brother in quick succession brought her to the forefront. She is married to Mustaqeem Dignity, a close associate of her late brother.
In 2023, she left the Janata Dal Secular, breaking down publicly as she protested the party’s decision under H D Deve Gowda to align with the BJP. She later joined the Samajwadi Party and contested the 2024 Assembly election, though unsuccessfully.
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In a significant shift, Hind and her husband set aside years of rivalry with the Shaikh family and aligned with former MLA Shaikh Asif’s ISLAM party to counter the growing influence of Mufti Ismail, who won the Malegaon Central seat in 2019 and again in 2024. The alliance secured 40 seats in the corporation, enough to lead with outside support, paving the way for Hind’s elevation as Deputy Mayor on February 7.
Five days into her tenure, the Tipu portrait controversy erupted.
“The photo was gifted to me by my fellow Corporators. I want to state this that I have not removed the photo. It has been taken down only because my office has gone under renovation,” she says.
She also frames the portrait debate in personal and social terms. “I am an OBC woman who hails from a weaver community. We believe in taking everyone along. We have proposed building a statue of Shivaji Maharaj as well,” she says.
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On whether the portrait will return, she remains guarded. “I am a socialist at heart. We will continue to put photos of all those who we believe adhered to or are representative of the Socialist ideology that we believe in,” Hind says.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
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