Senior Congress chief Md Ali Shabbir says Muslims are backing Congress in Telangana: The ‘Grand Old Party’ and its rivals with AIMIM

The Congress event is in a race with AIMIM to win Muslim votes in Telangana. Md Ali Shabbir, a senior Congress chief said on Saturday that the Muslims of Telangana had been firmly backing the event and AIMIM would fail to make a dent in that votebank.

According to The New Indian Express Shabbir said, “The AIMIM had been supporting Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao but has now changed its stance and begun criticising BRS. However, Muslims are not going to be fooled by this change of heart. MIM leaders should know that there are differing opinions between Muslims in north and south Telangana.”

He further recognized that AIMIM did not secure key constituencies along with Nizamabad, Secunderabad, and Jublie Hills no matter being in politics for over 50 years. The assertion coming from the Congress chief is part of the approach the grand outdated half has formulated to woo once more Muslim voters in Telangana.

Notably, there are 40 Telangana Assembly constituencies which have sizable Muslim inhabitants. In the 2018, assembly elections, Congress did not win even a single seat from these constituencies. AIMIM secured seven seats whereas Chief Minister Ok Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS (beforehand TRS) gained the rest of the seats. AIMIM and BRS are considered nice occasions throughout the state. Reports advocate the very best causes for Congress dropping all seats in Muslim dominating areas, principally to BRS, had been the welfare schemes and the “secular nature” of the Rao-led authorities since 2014.

Following the polls win in Karnataka Assembly elections, Congress appears assured that it’d in all probability repeat the win in Telangana. The grand outdated event had a robust keep on Muslim voters throughout the state. Notably, the voting patterns of Karnataka made it clear that Muslim voters’ consolidation helped Congress win Karnataka.

Not to neglect, Congress managed to position Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a troublesome place in Karnataka because of Muslim-centric factors along with the hijab ban, halal vs jhatka row, scrapping of 4 per cent Muslim reservations and controversy spherical Tipu Sultan.

In Telangana, Congress claimed AIMIM’s polarisation has helped BJP in gaining Hindu voters. By targetting Muslim voters, Congress is not solely planning to position a dent in AIMIM’s place in Telangana’s politics however moreover objectives to position a dent throughout the rising recognition of BJP throughout the state. In May, sooner than the Karnataka polls commenced, a senior Congress chief said to Times of India that the speeches Owaisi made might not get AIMIM Muslim votes or decrease votes for the “secular parties”, it positively polarised Hindu votes in route of BJP.

TOI reported that election strategist Sunil Kanugolu submitted evaluations regarding the Telangana elections scheduled for 2023 end the place it was recognized that with out Muslim votes it will not be attainable for Congress to return once more to vitality. To receive the objective, Congress has to cut Muslim votes of AIMIM and BRS collectively. Muslim leaders linked to Congress consider to fulfill ulema, masjid committees and excellent Muslim personalities to woo the group.

Congress’s Muslim supporters demand additional illustration

To get to the Muslim voters, Congress desires its Muslim staff to attach with the voters on the underside. The staff see this as an opportunity to find a way for Muslim leaders throughout the authorities if Congress includes vitality. Keeping it in ideas, Muslim Congress staff have formed a joint movement committee looking for additional illustration for the Muslim group throughout the upcoming Telangana elections.

The not too way back formed Muslim group named Sarvodaya Joint Action Group (S-JAG) has 30 members. As per the Siasat report, the group has demanded Congress High Command take into consideration solely minority candidates the place the Muslim inhabitants is over 25 to 30 per cent. The thoughts behind the formation of S-JAG and member of AICC Congress Sandesh MA Basith said, “We want the minority community to be given an opportunity to add value to public life. We have immense faith in your leadership to do justice and pay heed to the voice of Hyderabadis as a community.”

Notably, in Karnataka elections, after Congress registered victory, Muslim leaders demanded high-profile departments for group leaders throughout the authorities. Karnataka State Waqf Board chief Shafi Sadi claimed 72 constituencies went into Congress’s arms solely as a result of Muslims. 15 Muslim candidates had been fielded by Congress throughout the elections, out of which 9 gained. However, his nomination from Waqf board was later suspended by the Congress authorities in Karnataka.

Congress chief instigated Muslims in opposition to BJP chief T Raja

In August 2022, Telangana Congress chief Feroze Khan launched a fierce assault on suspended BJP chief T Raja following his alleged remarks on Prophet Mohammed. He issued a menace on digicam asking his followers to take the laws in hand and beat up T Raja Singh. He said, “T Raja Singh wants to do politics of polarisation. Put him in jail. Raja Singh should apologise for his statement. The Prophet is our hero. If he doesn’t apologise, then I would want to ask every Muslim in Hyderabad to beat him wherever you see him. We can take the law into our hands not once, but several times.”

T Raja Singh was suspended from BJP following controversy erupted over his alleged assertion in opposition to Prophet Mohammed. He was booked beneath Sections 153A, 295 and 505 of the IPC.