Hyderabad: The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen became a recognised state party after capturing 7 Assembly seats in 2014 even though the overall polling percentage is falling in its bailiwick. It came second in Jubilee Hills and Nizamabad Urban and third in Rajendranagar.
Despite this, the MIM has been supreme in these constituencies which were delimited in 2008.
The Opposition and MIM’s allies have failed to strengthen their base in these constituencies.
The MIM has been strengthening its grip steadily since 1962. After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, the MIM could retain only Charminar, from where party president Asaduddin Owaisi won.
The MBT under the leadership of MIM rebel Amanullah Khan won two Chandrayangutta and Yakutpura. By 1999, the MIM had strengthened sufficiently to win Charminar, Yakutpura, Chandrayangutta and Karwan. In 2004, the MIM retained these seats and wrestled Asifnagar in the by-elections when Mr D. Nagendar resigned after the Congress came to power.
The constituencies were delimited in 2008, and the MIM only emerged stronger. In 2009, it won from Charminar, Yakutpura, Chandrayangutta, Bahadurpura, Karwan, Nampally and Malakpet and defeated the combined challenge of the MBT, Telugu Desam and the Left. The MIM retained these seats in 2014 with higher margins.
The poll percentage in these constituencies was high till 1999 but began falling since 2004. The turnout is now lower than the state average. Opposition parties are uniting to defeat the MIM this time, but are not ina position to field strong candidates except in two are three constituencies.
The Opposition so far has lacked manpower, failed to convince voters and performed poorly in poll day management. These parties could not arrange agents for polling booths.
