Malegaon: A political controversy broke out in Malegaon, Maharashtra, after a portrait of Tipu Sultan was displayed in the office of Deputy Mayor Shaan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, triggering criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party and protests by Shiv Sena corporators. The dispute escalated when BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the move on social media, alleging that displaying Tipu Sultan’s image while omitting portraits of national leaders disrespected India’s icons.
Deputy Mayor of Malegaon, Shan E Hind.
She has put up a photo of Hindu hater Tipu Sultan but images of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar missing.. Huge insult to our real heroes
Constitution gave you the opportunity of becoming Deputy Mayor… its… pic.twitter.com/p0CXoYxxVM
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Chowkidar as per INC ecosystem) (@Shehzad_Ind) February 14, 2026
Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that the Deputy Mayor of Malegaon had displayed a portrait of Tipu Sultan while omitting images of national figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar, calling it a “serious insult” to India’s real heroes.
He added that the Constitution, drafted by Ambedkar, had enabled her rise to public office, yet claimed she showed little respect for it. Targeting opposition parties, he further accused All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen of pursuing vote-bank politics and attempting to “paint Maharashtra green,” alleging that constitutional values were being sidelined for political gain. Meanwhile, the row sparked heated reactions across Malegaon and other parts of Maharashtra, with protests by Shiv Sena corporators and counter-statements from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen.
Shaan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, a corporator from the Samajwadi Party, became Deputy Mayor following a post-poll alliance between the Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra (ISLAM) and the SP. Contesting together as the Malegaon Secular Front in Malegaon, the coalition secured 43 of the 84 seats in the Malegaon Municipal Corporation, enabling it to form a majority and take control of the civic body.
