NIZAMABAD: Several Muslim leaders are strongly pushing their case for MLA tickets. Other than Hyderabad, these leaders are seeking tickets for Muslim-prominent Kamareddy, Nizamabad Urban, Adilabad, Warangal East and Mahabubnagar assembly constituencies.
Of the 119 assembly constituencies, the ruling BRS has granted only one MLA ticket to a Muslim – the sitting Bodhan MLA Shakil Amer.
In view of the strong Muslim support for the Congress in the recent Karnataka assembly elections, the Muslim leaders have sought a proportionate share in the MLA ticket allocations in Telangana state.
Around 6 Muslim leaders applied for MLA tickets from the Congress in the state.
Nizamabad Parliamentary constituency has four lakh minority votes of which 1.20 lakh voters are in Nizamabad urban assembly constituency. Former minister Mohammad Shabbir would get the MLA ticket from Kamareddy assembly constituency.
In the 2018 assembly elections, the Congress fielded Shabbir and Taher Hamdan from Kamareddy and Nizamabad urban assembly constituencies, but both were defeated.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, the minority leader said the Congress party could do social engineering in the MLA tickets allocation. If Muslim leaders get a significant number of MLA tickets, it would improve the winning chances of the Congress, he said.
After Karnataka, the minorities in Telangana state are also keen on having a change of government here, he said.
Being a former minister and former leader of opposition in Legislative Council, Mohammad Shabbir has established himself as a senior Congress leader. For the last three decades, he has been actively working in Kamareddy assembly constituency.
Former Nizamabad district Congress committee president Taher Bin Hamdan as also Adilabad and Mahabubnagar DCC presidents Sajid Khan and Ubed Khan are also strongly aspiring for MLA tickets this time.
