Unanimous election of sorts

Charminar has been the stronghold of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and has elected only the party candidates in the last seven elections right from 1978 onwards.

A notable feature of this Assembly segment is that only once did the runner-up, BJP’s C. Ashok Kumar get 23.01 per cent votes in 1983 and in all other elections, the nearest rival to the MIM’s candidate did not cross the 20 per cent mark. Conversely, the MIM’s votes polled ranged from a low of 52.41 per cent in (2004) to a high of 72.33 per cent in 1989 when Virasat Rasool Khan got elected.

The party president Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, fondly called ‘Salaar’ got elected from this constituency in 1978 and 1983. Mohd. Mukarramuddin (1985), Virasat Rasool Khan (1989), Asaduddin Owaisi (1994 and 1999) and Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri (2004) were the others who go elected.

In the last elections, it was a woman nominee from Telugu Desam Party, Tayyaba Tasleem who challenged the might of MIM, but she managed to get just 12.90 per cent of votes polled.

Owaisi brothers reach out to voters

No speeches or promises. Just a ‘salam’ and a handshake. The crowd goes ga-ga and roars “Majlis ko vote do”.

No celluloid stars yet they cast a mesmerising spell. Asaduddin Owaisi and younger brother, Akbaruddin Owaisi, work up a magic as they move around the interior lanes and by lanes of the Old City seeking support. That they have a head start in the ‘purana sheher’ is clear. While other parties are yet to make their presence felt here, the Majlis banners and cut-outs greet one everywhere.

The Owaisi brothers, the mainstay of Majlis, have set up a punishing pace for themselves aware of the stiff challenge the Grand Alliance is posing. They go around different constituencies for three hours in the morning and evening and address series of public meetings in the night.

Reaching out

But it is one-to-one contact that they rely on. Both freely mix with the people and reach out to them. At Eedi Bazaar in Chandrayanguttta constituency, they go door to door seeking votes.

“Sola April ko Majlis ko vote dena hai Parliament aur Assembly keliye”, says Mr. Asaduddin (You have to vote Majlis on April 16).

Youth particularly mob him while some of them shout “Majlis zindabad” slogans.

The Owaisis are profusely garlanded by shopkeepers and even tied victory bands on the arms. An elderly woman blesses Mr. Asaduddin as he bends his tall frame. “Ammajan don’t forget to vote Majlis,” he reminds her.

At Kumarwadi colony a butcher stretches out to shake hands while a barber comes out of the hair-saloon to see what the ‘tamasha’ is all about.

There is a mad rush among the people to pose for a photograph with the Owaisi brothers and invite them to their house.

Mohd. Samee-ur-Rehman is all smiles when the Majlis leaders enter his house. Chai and biscuits are quickly served and a shawl presented to Mr. Asaduddin.

“Though people in Old City always support Majlis, I never saw such enthusiasm. Whenever opponents come together to challenge Majlis people respond this way”, says Mr. Akbaruddin.

Surprisingly, the Majlis leaders do not make any promises. “We don’t believe in giving assurances like other parties. We just do what is required for people. That’s why Majlis doesn’t have an election manifesto”, says Mr. Asaduddin.