Samajwadi Party Appoints Riyaz Azmi as Bhiwandi City President
The Samajwadi Party has executed an organisational reshuffle in Bhiwandi, appointing senior leader Riyaz Azmi as the new city president in place of Anas Ansari. The leadership changes were officially announced at a programme held in Colaba, Mumbai, where Maharashtra Pradesh Samajwadi Party president Abu Asim Azmi handed over the appointment letters.
Under the new configuration, former Bhiwandi deputy mayor Ahmed Hussain Siddiqui has been named the party's vice-president. Meanwhile, Ansari has been moved to a state-level role, securing an appointment as a secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Samajwadi Party alongside a position as a special invitee to the Mumbai Pradesh executive committee.
Ansari had initially taken charge as Bhiwandi city president on January 2, 2026, with an intended tenure scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2027. His replacement within a few months has triggered discussions in local political circles, though party leadership has not publicly detailed specific reasons for the mid-tenure transition.
Ansari's initial induction was aimed at strengthening outreach within Bhiwandi's extensive powerloom and weaving community. According to party officials, Ansari will maintain responsibilities in both the Maharashtra and Mumbai units while aiding the transition of the new local leadership.
Riyaz Azmi, who has previously served as the Bhiwandi city unit head, takes charge as political parties prepare their ground networks ahead of upcoming electoral contests. Azmi stated that his primary focus will be strengthening party operations at the booth level and addressing civic problems across the city.
Speaking at the Colaba event, Abu Asim Azmi indicated that the party plans to launch public campaigns focused on local infrastructure and basic amenities. The leadership highlighted persistent civic grievances in Bhiwandi, including inadequate water supply, damaged roads, poor drainage systems, and gaps in healthcare and education.
The party announced that it will pursue these issues with local administrative authorities and organise protests to push for infrastructure improvements across the city.
