I don’t know what is CPI or CPM. Yes, there were some protestors with red flags demanding amenities said to be on behalf of us. I don’t think they had anything to do with politics and elections,’ Azeem, a vegetable vendor, who dwells in a slum in Old City, told TSI. He is absolutely right as the ‘red’ protestors failed to even open their score.
During the general elections in May 2009, there were speculations about the possible defeat of Asad, also the successor of the party leadership after the demise of his father in October 2008. Owing to the exercise of delimitation of constituencies, the Hyderabad parliamentary constituency, comprising Malakpet, Karwan, Goshamahal, Charminar, Chandrayanagutta, Yakutpura and Bahadurpura Assembly segments, has a whopping 70 per cent Muslim electorate. The TDP, allied with TRS and the Left, strategically fielded Zahid Ali Khan, editor of Urdu daily Siasat, to split Muslim votes. Since Prajarajyam was also in the fray, the Chiranjeevi factor gave further impetus to such speculations. As the Owaisis are Sunnis, even sectarian disparities between the ‘elitist’ Sunnis and poor Shias were taken into consideration. The large-scale migration of Shias from the rural areas and towns in Telangana districts to Hyderabad after police action, made them submissive before the Sunnis.
But to the dismay of poll pundits, Asad won and that too by 1.10 lakh votes. "Vexed by the dominance of the minority Sunnis, the majority Shias were about to revolt and the mutiny was anticipated in the 2009 general elections,” a psephologist, who does not want to be named, tells TSI.
However, the good show by MiM in the recent polls for the GHMC has thrown all analyses out of the window. It has proved that it is not religious possessiveness that keeps the Owaisi family flag flying but it is the irrevocable ‘faith’ of the old city inhabitants that keeps this dynasty in the saddle.
“Muslim ethnicity is steadily maintained and intensified in the region. Recurrent political changes have heightened Muslim insecurity here. This perhaps has resulted in the creation blind faith in the indispensibility of the Owaisis,” the psephologist explains.
Asaduddin Owaisi rebuffs the analyses. “Voters have faith in MiM. Our party has always addressed people’s grievances. That is why this faith is triumphant at all times,” he says.
During the general elections in May 2009, there were speculations about the possible defeat of Asad, also the successor of the party leadership after the demise of his father in October 2008. Owing to the exercise of delimitation of constituencies, the Hyderabad parliamentary constituency, comprising Malakpet, Karwan, Goshamahal, Charminar, Chandrayanagutta, Yakutpura and Bahadurpura Assembly segments, has a whopping 70 per cent Muslim electorate. The TDP, allied with TRS and the Left, strategically fielded Zahid Ali Khan, editor of Urdu daily Siasat, to split Muslim votes. Since Prajarajyam was also in the fray, the Chiranjeevi factor gave further impetus to such speculations. As the Owaisis are Sunnis, even sectarian disparities between the ‘elitist’ Sunnis and poor Shias were taken into consideration. The large-scale migration of Shias from the rural areas and towns in Telangana districts to Hyderabad after police action, made them submissive before the Sunnis.
But to the dismay of poll pundits, Asad won and that too by 1.10 lakh votes. "Vexed by the dominance of the minority Sunnis, the majority Shias were about to revolt and the mutiny was anticipated in the 2009 general elections,” a psephologist, who does not want to be named, tells TSI.
However, the good show by MiM in the recent polls for the GHMC has thrown all analyses out of the window. It has proved that it is not religious possessiveness that keeps the Owaisi family flag flying but it is the irrevocable ‘faith’ of the old city inhabitants that keeps this dynasty in the saddle.
“Muslim ethnicity is steadily maintained and intensified in the region. Recurrent political changes have heightened Muslim insecurity here. This perhaps has resulted in the creation blind faith in the indispensibility of the Owaisis,” the psephologist explains.
Asaduddin Owaisi rebuffs the analyses. “Voters have faith in MiM. Our party has always addressed people’s grievances. That is why this faith is triumphant at all times,” he says.
