Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s Mirza Riyaz Ul Hasan Effendi is set for re-election to the Telangana Legislative Council from Hyderabad Local Authorities Constituency, as both the Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have chosen not to contest the seat.
Effendi submitted his nomination papers today, accompanied by AIMIM MLAs Ahmed Balala and Mir Zulfekhar Ali, along with other party leaders.
Effendi was first elected to the Council in 2019 under the MLA quota, and his term ended last month.
The Hyderabad LAC electorate comprises 110 members, including corporators, MLAs, and MPs. AIMIM holds a clear edge with 49 votes, followed by BRS with 25, Congress with 14, and BJP with 22. Despite its lower numbers, the BJP has fielded N. Gautham Rao as its candidate for the upcoming election scheduled on April 23. The ruling Congress party is expected to back AIMIM in the election.
April 4 marked the last day for filing nominations. The scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on April 7, while April 9 is the deadline for withdrawal. Polling is set for April 23, with counting on April 25.
Last month, five MLC seats under the MLA quota were filled unopposed – three by Congress, one by CPI, and one by BRS. Effendi’s seat was among those that had become vacant. Although AIMIM had sought a seat under the MLA quota, Congress urged the party to wait for the Hyderabad LAC election, assuring it of support.
Effendi’s re-election will increase AIMIM’s representation in the Council to two members. The other, Mirza Rahmat Baig, was elected in February 2023 with support from BRS.
Previously allied with BRS, AIMIM realigned with Congress following the latter’s rise to power. With a significant voter base in Hyderabad, AIMIM has been supporting the Congress government on key issues. In turn, the Congress leadership has maintained cordial relations with the Majlis.
