Reacting to the BJP’s criticism, Nihal Ahemad stated that there was nothing wrong with having the portrait of the 18th-century Mysuru ruler in his office and that it will remain there.
Image shared by BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla on X.
A political row has erupted in Maharashtra over the installation of a portrait of 18th-century ruler Tipu Sultan at the office of Malegaon Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor, Shan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed.
As the picture of Ahmed showing Tipu Sultan’s portrait in the background emerged, the ruling BJP launched a sharp attack, accusing the Malegaon deputy Mayor of insulting India’s icons.
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“Deputy Mayor of Malegaon… has put up a photo of Hindu hater Tipu Sultan, but images of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar are missing… Huge insult to our real heroes,” BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said on X.
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Poonawalla further stated that the Constitution of India had allowed her to hold the public office, but the portrait of its architect Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, was also not installed. “She has no respect for Sanvidhan,” the BJP leader alleged.
He further claimed that the AIMIM wants to “paint Maharashtra green”. “This is what happens when you put Votebank first, not Samvidhan first,” he added.
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 (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) February 14, 2026
Nihal Ahmed says nothing wrong with installing Tipu Sultan’s portrait
Reacting to the BJP’s criticism, Nihal Ahemad stated that there was nothing wrong with having the portrait of the 18th-century Mysuru ruler in his office and that it will remain there.
“It is our right to decide which photos are displayed in our office… If the workers have posted a photo, there is nothing wrong with it. We are people of socialist ideology; therefore, we will display photos of the great personalities who represent our ideals… Despite the opposition to Tipu Sultan’s portrait, it was displayed in my office…,” she was quoted as saying by ANI.
Addressing the absence of other mandatory portraits of other national icons, the Malegaon deputy mayor said that the responsibility lies with the municipal administration.
“The responsibility of installing photos of other great personalities lies with the Municipal Administration… It was essential that the photo of the architect of the Constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, be installed first… Ask the Municipal Administration why the photos of these great leaders have not been put up yet,” she added.
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