TBA Opinion

TBA Explainer – Telangana Elections 2023: What’s MIM’s role & how significant is it? 

TBA Explainer – Telangana Elections, MIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) is a regional party that has a strong presence in Hyderabad and some parts of Telangana. It has been an ally of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) since 2014 and has supported Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on various issues. In the 2018 assembly elections, MIM contested seven seats in Hyderabad and won all of them with comfortable margins. 

TBA Explainer – Telangana Elections, the political scenario in Telangana has changed since then. The main opposition party, Indian National Congress (INC), has been weakened by defections and internal disputes. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won only one seat in 2018, has emerged as a formidable challenger to BRS and MIM, especially after its impressive performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2020 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections. The BJP has been trying to woo the Hindu voters by raising issues such as illegal immigrants, cow protection, Ram temple and national security. It has also accused MIM of being communal, anti-national and divisive. 

The AIMIM contested 8 seats in the 2018 Telangana assembly elections and won 7 of them, securing 2.7% of the vote share. TBA Explainer – Telangana Elections, The party retained its stronghold of Chandrayangutta, where its leader Akbaruddin Owaisi won by a margin of over 80,000 votes. The other six seats that the AIMIM won are Bahadurpura, Charminar, Karwan, Malakpet, Nampally and Yakutpura. All these seats are located in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area, where the party has a loyal base of Muslim voters.

MIM re-thinking its ties with BRS?

TBA Explainer – Telangana Elections, The AIMIM is expected to play a key role in the 2023 assembly elections in Telangana, as it can influence the outcome of several seats in the GHMC region and beyond. The party has already announced its intention to expand its footprint in the state and contest more seats than before. The party has also been reaching out to other communities, such as Dalits and OBCs, to broaden its appeal.

In this context, how will MIM fare in the 2023 assembly elections? Will it be able to retain its hold on the Muslim voters, who constitute about 12% of the state’s population? And to expand its base beyond Hyderabad and win more seats? Will it continue to support BRS or explore other options? Will it work in favour of KCR or give a chance to BJP?

The 7 constituencies are Bahadurpura, Charminar, Karwan, Malakpet, Nampally and Yakutpura. They are part of the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, which is currently held by AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi.  

Case-by-case basis of 7 MIM-won constituencies:

Charminar

This is the bastion of MIM and the seat of its president Asaduddin Owaisi. He has won this seat six times since 1994 and is likely to win again in 2023. The constituency has a Muslim population of about 70% and Owaisi enjoys a loyal support base among them. He is also popular for his fiery speeches and his advocacy for Muslim rights at the national level. The BJP has been trying to make inroads into this constituency by highlighting the issues of development, sanitation and civic amenities. However, it is unlikely to pose a serious threat to Owaisi, who has a huge margin of victory over his rivals. 

Chandrayangutta

This is another stronghold of MIM and the seat of its floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, who is also the younger brother of Asaduddin Owaisi. He has won this seat five times since 1999 and is expected to win again in 2023. The constituency has a Muslim population of about 65% and Akbaruddin Owaisi is known for his charisma and influence among them. He is also known for his controversial statements and his clashes with BJP leaders. The BJP has been targeting him for his alleged involvement in criminal cases and his provocative remarks against Hindus. However, he has a loyal fan following among his supporters who see him as a champion of their cause. 

Bahadurpura

This is another safe seat for MIM and stronghold of the AIMIM, where it has won five times since 1999. The current MLA is Mohd Moazam Khan, who won by a margin of over 80,000 votes in 2018. He is likely to retain his seat with ease. The voter base of AIMIM in Bahadurpura is mainly composed of lower and middle class Muslims, who are loyal to the party for its social welfare schemes, religious identity and charismatic leadership. The party also enjoys the support of some influential religious scholars and community leaders in this constituency. 

Karwan

One of the oldest and largest constituencies in Hyderabad, with a population of about 3.5 lakh. It is a Muslim-dominated area, with about 70% of the population belonging to the minority community. The current MLA of Karwan is Kausar Mohiuddin, who won the seat in 2018 with a margin of over 80,000 votes against his nearest rival from BJP. The main challenge for AIMIM in Karwan is to maintain its vote share and counter the rising influence of BJP.

Nampally

Nampally is another Muslim-majority constituency in Hyderabad, with a population of about 2.8 lakh. It has about 65% of Muslim voters, followed by Hindus (25%), Christians (5%) and others (5%).  AIMIM has been winning Nampally since 1962, except for two occasions: in 1989, when it lost to Congress; and in 2009, when it lost to TDP. The current MLA of Nampally is Jaffar Hussain Meraj, who won the seat in 2018 with a margin of over 50,000 votes against his nearest rival from Congress. He is a close associate of Asaduddin Owaisi. 

Malakpet

One of the oldest constituencies in Hyderabad and has been represented by the AIMIM since 1967. The constituency has a mixed population of Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Dalits. The AIMIM has been able to retain its support base among the Muslims, who constitute about 60% of the voters, by providing them with various welfare schemes, educational institutions, and civic amenities. The main challenger for the AIMIM in Malakpet is the Congress, which has a loyal vote bank among the Hindus, especially, the Reddy community. 

Yakutpura

Another stronghold of the AIMIM in Hyderabad district and has been represented by the party since 1984. The constituency has a predominantly Muslim population of about 80%, with a small presence of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. The AIMIM has been able to maintain its dominance in Yakutpura by catering to the religious, cultural, and economic needs of the Muslim community. The party has also been instrumental in preserving and promoting the heritage and identity of the old city of Hyderabad, where Yakutpura is located. The main opposition for the AIMIM in Yakutpura is the BJP, which has been trying to woo the Hindu voters by promising them development and security. 

Impact on BRS & BJP?

The AIMIM can have an impact on both the BRS and the BJP in the 2023 assembly elections. On one hand, the AIMIM can help the BRS by splitting the anti-incumbency votes and consolidating the Muslim votes in its favour. 

On the other hand, the AIMIM can hurt the BRS by denting its secular image. And alienating some of its allies, such as the Left parties. The AIMIM can also challenge the BJP by countering its Hindutva agenda and mobilizing the minority votes against it. Despite appearing like a smaller party in the existing political scenario, MIM has played a significant role in Telangana and earlier, united Andhra Pradesh’s politics. 

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Tejaswini Pagadala

Communications Consultant: TEJASWINI PAGADALA is an independent communications consultant. She has previously worked with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office as the Communications Officer where she has written English speeches for the CM, managed English media communication from the CMO and handled social media accounts of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and the Government.
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