Akbar Owaisi to contest from Hyderabad seat?

Hyderabad, Aug 4: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi may not contest from Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat in 2014 elections. Instead, he is likely to field his younger brother and Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi from the Hyderabad parliamentary segment.

According to sources, the MIM president is keen on capatalising the popularity Akbaruddin Owaisi has gained in the recent past. While Akbar Owaisi’s gained massive public support after the assassination bid, his popularity touched its peak when he was arrested for allegedly making hate speeches. He is now being considered the most popular MIM leader after his father Salar-e-Millat Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi.

Although Akbaruddin Owaisi has reduced his public appearances after his release from Adilabad Jail in the alleged hate speech case, ill-health and legal complications are said to be the reasons that forced him to keep a low profile for time being. However, sources say that Akbar Owaisi is preparing to contest the next Lok Sabha elections after being asked to do so by his elder brother.

Known for making strategic political moves at appropriate times, Asaduddin Owaisi is aiming to increase MIM’s strength in the next Assembly. Therefore, by fielding Akbar Owaisi from the Hyderabad seat, he plans to focus on State politics. Sources say that Asaduddin Owaisi himself may contest from Charminar seat as present MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri has reportedly desired to retire from electoral politics.

After the delimitation of seats in 2009, Hyderabad seat has become safe for the MIM. In 2009 elections, Asaduddin Owaisi won with a comfortable majority of over one lakh votes against his nearest rival Zahid Ali Khan of Telugu Desam Party. MIM’s arch rival Bharatiya Janata Party stood third by securing 93,917 votes against MIM’s 308,061 while Zahid Ali Khan secured 194,196 votes. The statistics clearly show that Akbar Owaisi could comfortably win from Hyderabad while his candidature would have an indirect impact on all the Assembly segments including those falling in Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency.