Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen all set to play kingmaker in Telangana

Hyderabad: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, which is hoping to reach double-digit figures in these elections, has decided to keep its option open for a post-poll alliance with either the Congress or the Telangana Rastra Samiti, if there is a hung Assembly in the new state of Telangana, and also in the formation of the government at the Centre.

As a hung Assembly appears to be a possibility in Telangana, the MIM, which is confident of retaining its seven seats and is expecting victory in three more seats, is likely to emerge as a formidable force and the key in formation of the government in the new state.

MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said that the party will surely retain its seven seats in Hyderabad city and it is expecting wins in Rajendranagar, Jubilee Hills and Nizamabad (Urban). In Jubilee Hills and Rajendranagar, polling trends indicated a keen contest between the Congress and the MIM.

He said that Muslims are deciding factors in about 50 constituencies in Telangana and in view of the “Modi factor”, there was a clear polarisation of Muslim against TD-BJP alliance witnessed in Wednesday’s polling.

He said that the Muslim voter has adopted tactical voting to defeat the TD-BJP and voted for candidates who are capable of defeating the alliance irrespective of the party. In view of this, he said, it is difficult to assess at this stage how many seats the Congress and the TRS will win. He said joining the government is too hypothetical a question at this stage. The one thing that is very clear is that the party will sail with only secular minded parties.