An Analysis Report – Asaduddin Owaisi and AIMIM Hyderabad

Introduction 

AIMIM was founded before the Partition as Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) in 1927 by Nawab Mahmood Nawaz Khan Qiledar of Hyderabad State ruled by Nizam in the presence of Ulma-e-Mashaeqeen as a pro-Nizam party. After the Partition, the Grandfather of Asaduddin Owaisi – Abdul Wahed Owaisi, a lawyer, took responsibility for the Party and nurtured it. After Abdul Wahed Owaisi, his son Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, the father of Akbaruddin and Asaduddin Owaisi, took control of AIMIM in 1975 and is referred to as Salar E Millat (commander of the community). In 2008, Asaduddin Owaisi took charge of the Party and held the position of the National President of the AIMIM. In the last 2018 Telangana assembly polls, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won 7 of the 8 seats it contested, retaining its hold in its traditional bastion of the Old City of Hyderabad. All the 7 sitting MLAs, including Owaisi’s brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, were re-elected. MIM won in 7 assembly constituencies for the first time in 2009 and repeated the accomplishment in the 2014 and last 2018 assembly elections. Akbaruddin Owaisi, the star campaigner for the Party, registered a decisive win in the Chandrayangutta seat, his 5th win in a row since 1999, with a margin of 80,263 votes in the last 2018 elections.

Similarly, AIMIM candidate Mohd Moazam Khan was declared elected from the Bahadurpura constituency by 82,518 votes against the BRS candidate. MIM’s Kausar Mohiuddin, who trailed by over 6,000 votes after the ninth round against BJP candidate Amar Singh in the Karwan Assembly segment, had made a remarkable comeback to emerge the winner by over 50,000 votes. The Party’s five-time MLA Mumtaz Ahmed Khan and Ahmed Pasha Qadri, who swapped their seats, won from Charminar and Yakutpura, respectively. In Malakpet, Ahmed Bin Abdullah Balala won his third straight term, while Jaffer Hussain Meraj emerged victorious from the Nampally seat for the second consecutive time. Over the past few years, the Party has also been contesting outside its home state, Telangana, and has won many seats, but that is mainly in the Local – Municipal Elections – Councillors/Corporators seats. Notably, besides Asaduddin Owaisi from Hyderabad Lok Sabha, it has one more MP – Imtiyaz Jalil, who won from Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra in the last 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

AIMIM has an indirect alliance with Telangana ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) headed by CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao, and this is the reason why AIMIM had fielded candidates only in 8 of the 119 assembly segments while supporting the BRS elsewhere across the State. AIMIM fielded Mirza Rahmat Baig in Rajendranagar, which the Party contested as the additional seat this time as it used to contest only 7 seats. Mr. Mirza Rahmat Baid turned out to be the only loser for AIMIM. Now, AIMIM is eyeing Jubilee Hills and Musheerabad assembly constituencies for the 2023 elections. These two assembly segments are located outside the Old City and are presently represented by its friendly Party, BRS, formerly known as Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). These 2 Assembly seats have a sizeable Muslim population, and AIMIM is preparing to win these 2 seats first and extend its bastion outside the old city. Earlier, AIMIM floor leader in the Telangana Assembly – Akbaruddin Owaisi, had stated that the Party plans to contest at least 50 out of the 119 seats in Telangana. However, as per the latest, AIMIM may contest on the 2 seats mentioned above outside the Old City, and it is also likely to contest on the Adilabad seat in the North region of Telangana.

Hyderabad Electorate Sentiment for AIMIM 

The People of the Old City of Hyderabad, from where all 7 AIMIM Lawmakers and Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi are elected as MP, have mixed Public Sentiments and Views over AIMIM. The Educated or Politically aware Electorate of Hyderabad has dissatisfaction with AIMIM on many levels, and they time to time, have expressed their anger towards AIMIM. The first and foremost issues of Old City are Traffic Jams, Highly Conjusted areas, the Absence of a Metro Facility, and Unemployment issues. However, the onus of the Unemployment issue is on the Muslim Community of Old City, as there are plenty of employment opportunities in Hyderabad, not only for Telangana but also for outsiders.

Secondly, the Politically aware Electorate of Hyderabad also has a problem with AIMIM going forward across the Country and Indirectly Benefitting the BJP by taking out Muslim Votes in Muslim-dominated Constituencies, resulting in the BJP winning (Whom AIMIM considers its arch-rival). And defeat the Muslim Candidates of Secular Parties such as the Congress, RJD, SP, and RLD. The Educated and Socio-Political Aware Class of Hyderabadis do not consider AIMIM a success for going beyond Telangana. Instead, they think it is causing damage to Hyderabad Party (AIMIM) and backfiring. Also, an intellectual class of Hyderabad is angry with AIMIM as they do not let any other Leader or Opposition emerge in their Fortress and think the Old City is their paternal property.

Similarly, others pointed out that the MIM does not allow any other political party to campaign in the old city and has a complete grip over the Muslims in this area. Thus, an Educated Urban Class has its differences in place. Despite this, In the entire Hyderabad, the Muslim Electorate and a chunk of the Hindu Electorate, irrespective of any class or caste, proactively voted for AIMIM as, overall, it is considered that AIMIM is a decades-old strong Political Party that can bargain better with the Ruling BRS and can get the best in the interest of Hyderabadis. Hence, Muslims in Old City and the rest of Hyderabad vote predominantly and do not want to waste their vote by voting for any other Muslim or non-Muslim candidates fielded by TDP, Congress, or any Other Party. Apart from the Old City Bastion of AIMIM, it has more stronghold areas, such as – Mehdipatnam, Secunderabad, Jubilee Hills, and Musheerabad, with a large number of Supporters and Loyal Cadre. And this helped AIMIM win many GHMC seats outside Old City in the last GHMC elections. Party Chief Asaduddin Owaisi also enjoys good support and image in the Hindu Community of Hyderabad.

Many Political Parties, Educated and Intellectual Segment of Hyderabad and across the Country have one more issue with AIMIM, which is the issue of Trust Deficit as it is perceived that AIMIM is indirectly associated with the BJP and works as a B- Team of BJP. AIMIM Leaders are safe because they are indirectly helping the BJP; ED or CBI does not raid them nor punish them like other Opposition Party Leaders.

The Muslim community responded to Mr. Owaisi by voting for SP in large numbers in UP because they were not convinced that he was serious about defeating BJP.” It’s not that the Muslim community prefers the Samajwadi Party or the Congress. Still, if they want an alternative to the BJP, these (Secular Parties) are the options based on winnability against the BJP. And Mr. Owaisi, too, knows this but still benefits the BJP by cutting Muslim Votes.

However, the other side of the coin is that AIMIM has a right to contest elections like other Political Parties, and SP’s loyal vote bank Yadavs vote for BJP or BSP’s traditional Dalits vote bank votes for BJP are never blamed or targeted for splitting votes or making BJP win.

Muslim’s Relations with KCR 

The most popular policy that has struck a chord among Muslims is Shaadi Mubarak, where the BRS-led Telangana government offers Rs 1 lac to perform the marriage of girls from economically weaker sections (the counterpart for the Hindus is called “Kalyana Laxmi,” with a similar grant). Most Muslims in the State are self-employed and without land holdings in the rural hinterlands of the State of Telangana. Culturally, Telangana had a vital element of Sufi tradition, and even today, a large number of Muslims visit Dargahs (Muslim Shrine) along with Hindus. However, political parties such as the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen are not the best representatives of this tradition.

Muslims outside Old City, Hyderabad in the district do not vote for the MIM because they cannot win seats on their own or because of an overwhelming fear that voting for the MIM can invite anger and also possible reaction from the Hindu community and can prompt Hindus to vote for the BJP. The TRS supremo K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) had made an uncanny public announcement that no Muslim would be given a ticket from the TRS in the 2014 assembly elections as “they cannot win elections.” He added that he could give them tickets in the next assembly elections.

Similarly, KCR had earlier announced that a Muslim would be made the deputy chief minister but later retracted his statement. After these announcements and the previous history related to the candidature of Syed Ibrahim, Muslims are suspicious about the BRS and KCR in particular. A few Muslims perceive that though KCR is not explicitly communal, he is not a “reliable character” for Muslims. But, generally, KCR has a good image amongst the Muslim Community. Similarly, while spending a heavy budget on its people, the BRS-led KCR Govt. also ensures that no social groups are left behind or neglected from the benefits. From Building Temples to Making Brahmin Bhavan (House) for Brahmin Communities to making Residential Schools for Minorities, the Government ensures that they support all communities of Dalits, Upper Caste, Muslims, and OBCs without any discrimination.

AIMIM’s Plans and Relations with BRS

Since 2014, AIMIM and BRS have shared a ‘friendly relationship’; although the two parties are not part of a formal alliance, and support each other whenever necessary. But, Asaduddin Owaisi thinks BJP’s strengthening in the State is due to KCR’s mistakes. Hence, planning to secure their Fortress. AIMIM perceives that If the AIMIM is confined to just 7 seats, the BJP, with the help of the Modi government at the Centre, will make every effort to crush MIM. If the AIMIM has at least 12-15 MLAs in the assembly, it can stiffly resist the BJP.” The MIM is eyeing some strong Muslim-dominated constituencies in Adilabad, Karimnagar, and Nizamabad, where the Party has a small but strong cadre and vote base.

The Party had also won several seats in Nizamabad, Nirmal, and Adilabad municipalities. The AIMIM also hopes to lure the OBC and Dalit sections in parts of northern Telangana by offering them seats. Since there is anti-incumbency against the BRS, those who do not want the BJP to replace the BRS might tilt towards the AIMIM,” the party sources said. If Congress wins majority seats in the assembly elections, leading to a hung situation, the MIM might prefer to sail with it. For that, it has to prepare the ground from now on. Hence, sources said it wants to get out of the influence of KCR or wants to expand itself. It is more like a Plan B if BRS fails.

AIMIM Work 

Undoubtedly, AIMIM has been winning for the last 4 decades and has done a good job. And here are the ones in the pipeline. In September 2022, MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi wrote to Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, requesting him to extend the Assembly session further so that short discussions could be held on 27 subjects he listed in his letter. In his letter, the MLA also requested the Speaker to fix the dates to discuss the subjects. The topics suggested by him included the welfare of minorities, protection of Waqf lands, developmental activities in the Old City, scholarships, Aasara pensions, unemployment honorarium to youth, welfare schemes, recruitment of Urdu teachers in government schools, protection of 4 percent reservations for Muslims, and so on.

He sought discussions on the failure of the Centre in releasing financial funds because of the floods, cancellation of the ITIR project, denial of national project status to Kaleshwaram LIS, maintenance grants for Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha projects, reduction and delay in the release of funds for NREGS, and local bodies, the reluctance of the Centre to set up NID, Mega Power Park and Textiles Cluster in Telangana. Akbar also sought a discussion on the delay in extending Metro rail connectivity in the Old City and also regarding the road widening works in the Old City, in addition to the Charminar Pedestrian Project (CPP) works and construction of two bridges for hawkers near Salarjung Museum, and twin towers on the Osmania General Hospital premises. The AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi also called for setting up free job-oriented coaching centers for candidates to help the poor and ordinary people.

AIMIM’s relationship with other parties 

The Party had first aligned with the Congress in 1998 in undivided Andhra Pradesh when the then-ruling Telugu Desam Party was with the BJP. Owaisi broke ties with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre and the Congress government in the State of AP in 2012 after the arrest of AIMIM lawmakers following a row over the expansion of a temple adjoining Hyderabad’s historic Charminar. After breaking away from the UPA in 2012, the AIMIM did not ally with any party in the State or Centre. In 2013, a movement for a separate state of Telangana picked up momentum in Andhra Pradesh. Telangana was eventually carved out in 2014, with KCR’s BRS, formerly known as Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), emerging as the dominant Party in the State. Since then, BRS and AIMIM have remained in a friendly relationship of “Live and Let Live.” And, if we look at the National Front, in 2022, a meeting was called to decide on a candidate for the Presidential elections and the Joint Opposition Candidature of Shri Yashwant Sinha. AIMIM was not invited to the meeting.

Thus, AIMIM can still not convince other opposition parties that it is not a “B-team of BJP.” Party chief Asaduddin Owaisi is unhappy at being left out of the meeting, which has been conducted pertaining to the United Opposition-led INDIA coalition.