Lok Sabha elections: Congress, BJP find it hard to oust Asaduddin Owaisi

HYDERABAD: National parties Congress and BJP are struggling to find a suitable candidate to take on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in his pocket borough, Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency.


The Hyderabad parliamentary constituency has been the bastion of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party for over three decades, first represented by MIM patriarch Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi and later by his son, Asaduddin.

With a single-point agenda to defeat MIM, these parties are trying to rope in big guns to contest against Asaduddin, but they are finding it difficult to find strong candidates. Senior leaders are reportedly not interested as MIM has been winning the seat since 1984, a large presence of Muslim voters, and six of seven assembly segments captured by MIM MLAs in the 2018 elections. As MIM has been moving closely with ruling TRS for the past five years and criticising Congress and BJP, the two parties were laying special emphasis on defeating the lone MIM MP.

Congress even considered fielding former cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin from the seat, but he is reportedly reluctant for the contest. About 40 candidates sought Congress ticket from Hyderabad. Sources said names of Feroz Khan, who unsuccessfully contested from Nampally assembly constituency, Mohammed Ghouse, who unsuccessfully contested from Charminar constistuency, and Congress Minority Morcha chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail were being considered by the party.

Similarly, BJP is also looking for a suitable candidate. Initially, BJP had planned to field Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh, but the party reportedly dropped the idea as he is the lone MLA from BJP in the assembly. A few months ago, the party thought of fielding Swamy Paripoornanda, but he reportedly informed the party that he did not want to enter electoral politics.

BJP is also considering Satish Agarwal, who contested from the seat in 2009, Syed Shahazadi and two other persons, who are not BJP workers. “We are hopeful of winning the Hyderabad seat this time. In 2014, BJP candidate Bhagvantha Rao secured 32% votes, which was more than Congress and TRS candidates,” BJP leader N Ramchander Rao told TOI.