Hyderabad, March 30: Which way the Muslims of Telangana will vote in May 13 elections to 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state? This question is being debated in political circles in view of the different voting patterns between urban and rural Muslim voters seen in the Assembly elections held four months ago.
Muslims, who constitute 13 percent of the state’s population, have the potential to tilt the balance in at least 10 Lok Sabha constituencies. Any division of Muslim votes is likely to benefit the BJP.
In the recent Assembly elections, while Muslims in Greater Hyderabad overwhelmingly voted for Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and its friendly party All Inda Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), those in districts backed the Congress party.
Despite making a clean sweep in several districts to capture power with 64 seats in 119-member Assembly, the Congress drew a blank in Greater Hyderabad region, which has 24 seats.
The BRS continued its grip on the region, winning 16 seats while AIMIM retained all its seven seats. The BJP also retained its only seat.
Political analysts say if Muslim votes split between Congress and BRS in Lok Sabha polls, this will help BJP to consolidate its position.
The saffron party, which had bagged four seats in 2019, has set a target of winning at least 10 seats this time.
Muslim voters in 10 out of 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state can decide the outcome. These constituencies include Hyderabad where Muslim voters are in a clear majority and have been largely voting for AIMIM since 1984.
The other constituencies are Secunderabad, Chevella, Malkajgiri, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Medak, Adilabad, Zahirabad and Khammam.
While Congress government is claiming that it remains committed to fulfil the election promises made to minorities, the BRS is highlighting the raw deal meted out to the Muslim community by not giving them representation in the Cabinet.
No Muslim was elected to the Assembly on Congress ticket but it was expected that Congress would nominate a senior leader and former minister like Mohammed Ali Shabbir to the Legislative Council and induct him into the Cabinet. He was instead appointed advisor to the government on welfare of minorities and other sections.
The critics say Congress has not done beyond assurances. At ‘Dawat-e-Iftar’ hosted by the government, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy assured the Muslims that his government would protect four percent reservation enjoyed by the backward Muslims.
He said neither Amit Shah nor Prime Minister Modi would have the courage to do away with the four percent reservation. “Congress party has given four percent reservation by deploying good lawyers in the Supreme Court. It is our responsibility to protect that,” he said.
He said his government is providing representation to Muslims in the appointments to key government posts and also ensuring a proper share of minorities in implementation of welfare schemes.
Asserting that his government is secular, he said Hindus and Muslims are like two eyes to him.
On completion of 100 days of his government, Revanth Reddy said the Congress is committed to fulfil the promises made in minority declaration including enhancement of budget for minorities to Rs.4,000 crore.
It remains to be seen if AIMIM makes an appeal to Muslim voters outside Hyderabad parliamentary constituency to vote for Congress party.
Asaduddin Owaisi, whose party has been holding on to the Hyderabad seat for the last four decades, has still not taken a clear stand.
In all the elections held so far since formation of Telangana state, AIMIM backed BRS, earlier known as TRS.
The AIMIM, which had a bitter war of words with Congress leaders during the election campaign, also reconciled to the new reality and appears to have reciprocated to the hand of friendship extended by the Congress government.
In a gesture aimed at improving the strained relations with AIMIM, the Congress party soon after coming to power had appointed AIMIM’s floor leader in Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi as interim Speaker.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also shared the dais with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy when the latter laid the foundation stone for Hyderabad Metro Rail link to the old city.
While Owaisi assured all support to the Congress government for development works, the Chief Minister promised to take responsibility for development of the old city.
The BRS leaders believe that Muslims outside Greater Hyderabad believed the misinformation spread by Congress that BRS has a secret understanding with the BJP.
They hope that this time the Muslim voters in districts will also back the BRS. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao is also reaching out to Muslims by attending iftar parties and highlighting the work done by BRS during its 10-year rule for the development of the community.
