Owaisi Backs Congress in Telangana By-Poll
Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has raised significant concerns regarding the Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s (BRS) falling vote share. During an interview, Owaisi questioned, “Where is the BRS’s vote?” noting a drastic drop from 34.7% to 15% between the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This decline raises questions about the BRS's effectiveness and electoral strategy.
In a surprising move, AIMIM announced its support for Congress candidate Naveen Yadav in the Jubilee Hills Assembly bypoll. This marks the first collaboration between the two parties in a decade, a notable shift given their previous alliance before the formation of Telangana. Owaisi emphasized that the AIMIM supported the BRS initially to counter the BJP's influence, but it seems that the BRS has failed to meet expectations.
Owaisi pointed out that the BRS's poor performance in the last Lok Sabha elections, particularly in Secunderabad, highlighted its inability to secure votes. He noted that the constituency's development has also been neglected, which he argues has contributed to the BJP's rising popularity. The AIMIM leader criticized the BRS for not delivering basic amenities to the people in Jubilee Hills, claiming that the previous representative did little for the electorate.
With AIMIM not fielding a candidate, the political dynamics have shifted in favor of Congress in this election. The constituency has a significant Muslim population, which could play a crucial role in the outcome. Owaisi believes that supporting Yadav will not adversely affect AIMIM, as the bypoll is unlikely to change the overall power dynamics in the state, similar to the situation in Bihar.
Looking ahead, Owaisi did not completely rule out the possibility of future alliances with Congress for the next Assembly and parliamentary elections. He stated, “We’ll see about the next elections whether there should be an alliance or not,” indicating that while this support is strategic, he is keeping his options open for the future.
