Hyderabad: The aggressive approach of the BJP appears to be worrying the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi and its friendly ally the MIM.
While hardline leaders Raja Singh hold the Hindutva flag high in Telangana, senior leaders like Bandaru Dattatreya are welcoming minorities to target the MIM in its strongholds.
It appears that the BJP, which is on the mission of grabbing power in Telangana in the 2023 elections, will move with a twin-pronged formula.
Since the MIM extended its friendly support to the TRS in 2014, BJP leaders have been targeting the ruling party and trying to drive away the TRS from the MIM.
In its recent party membership drive, the BJP is hitting hard in the strong minority areas of the MIM and TRS.
According to Mr Dattatreya, “There will be no space left for the MIM and the TRS soon in Telangana. The Owaisi brothers and KCR have fooled people sufficiently and people have now understood their dirty politics.”
MIM’s firebrand leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was in Karimnagar on Tuesday to address a rally with regard to the upcoming municipal elections, where he urged the Muslims to stand together against the BJP and the RSS.
Responding to Mr Owaisi’s statement, BJP chief spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said, “The TRS and MIM are scared of the rise of the BJP in Telangana. The Muslim women across India are joining the BJP, as they see us as the only party which empowers them and protects their rights.”
He said, “By banning the triple talaq law, Mr Modi has proven beyond doubt that the BJP walks the talk and we don’t consider them as electoral currency like the Congress and other minority appeasement parties. We have a large number of women joining the BJP Telangana unit too from the old city for the same reason.”
He pointed out, “After the resurrection of our 17th state government in Karna-taka, the BJP’s flag will fly in the Telangana state.”
He also said that the speech of Mr Owaisi was an ample example of the BJP’s increasing strength in the state.
Addressing a rally in Karimnagar, Akbaruddin Owaisi had said, “I, Akbaruddin Owaisi begs the Muslim community to unite and become one. We have to ensure that the BJP does not get the chance to win mayorship. If the MIM does not win, I will accept it, but I cannot see the BJP’s victory. Let’s come together and tell the world there is no one to downsize us.”
