Owaisi, KCR Bhai-Bhai

Anvesh Reddy

Hyderabad: In the 105-member candidate list released by caretaker Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Chief K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) after dissolving the Legislative Assembly House, the seven constituencies which were being represented by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) were not mentioned. Ever since KCR announced the abrupt decision on September 6, MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi steadily supported the TRS's cause for re-election and went on to announce MIM as an unofficial partner of the party.

TRS showed its loyalty to the MIM by announcing a friendly contest in MIM's seven constituencies. In addition to the seven seats--Charminar, Yakutpura, Chandrayangutta, Karwan, Nampally, Bahadurpura and Malakpet, the MIM Chief announced his party was in contention for the Rajendranagar constituency. With a view to avoid splitting of votes between TRS and the MIM, the latter fielded candidates only in the eight constituencies.

However, the MIM candidates strategically filed nominations in various segments in which there is relatively higher Muslim voter count. It was later said in the political circles after withdrawing the nominations in the last minute, the MIM wanted to gauge the Congress coalition's plans in those constituencies.

In a latest development, KCR, in his recent series of public meetings, was highly vocal against the Congress's criticism of the MIM. Reiterating Asaduddin Owaisi's defense of the Congress's alleged attempt to buy him out for restraining him from attending a public meeting in Nirmal, KCR said the Congress did a silly mistake doing so. On Wednesday, while addressing a meeting in Nirmal, Owaisi said an associate of Congress candidate from the constituency, Aleti Maheshwar Reddy offered him Rs 25 lakh for not attending the meeting.

The MIM stood second in Jubilee Hills and Nizamabad Urban constituencies and third in Rajendranagar in the 2014 elections. While the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) snatched the Jubilee Hills and Rajendranagar seats, the TRS was victorious in Nizamabad Urban constituency.

Watch this space for more updates on Telangana Assembly elections 2018.

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