The TDP is finding itself on greasy grounds with every passing day in the Old City, as many Muslim leaders are feeling increasingly fidgety about the proposed BJP-TDP alliance.
According to TDP members in the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, confusion is prevailing in the ranks of the party’s Muslim leaders as a majority of them are not in favour of giving preferentiality to the BJP as it may anger their supporters.
With those who contested in the 2009 elections now circumspect, according to sources, the party is still searching for a suitable candidate to contest for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat.
Furthermore, Zahid Ali Khan, who contested on the TDP ticket in 2009, announced his retirement from electoral politics early this month.
“Every party wants to field a better candidate than the previous one. But the TDP is yet to identify a strong candidate who can be projected as the party’s Muslim face,” said Muzaffar Ali Khan, TDP Malakpet in-charge, who contested from this assembly segment in 2009.
Interestingly, Ali bin Ibrahim Masqati, who came in second with a little over 33,000 votes in the Charminar assembly constituency in the last elections, is reportedly evaluating his options. Sources said that he has been trying to feel the throb of his voters. However, he has been receiving sundry signals, with some giving an opinion to him to go ahead and others asking him to refrain. Ali’s father, Ibrahim bin Abdullah Masqati, was a TDP MLC. “The senior Masqati has age-related issues and does not seem to be active in politics for now,” a source said.
“Despite Ali Masqati’s deliberations, the party has shortlisted his name as head of the TDP’s minority cell. But it remains to be seen whether he will contest again from Charminar as he does not want to anger the Muslims,” as said by TDP source who did not wish to be named. Meanwhile, other names are being discussed if Masqati decides against contesting, the source added.
However, Muzaffar, who lost by a margin of around 7,000 votes to MIM legislator Ahmed Balala, said that he would contest from the same constituency. “I will work for Muslims from the platform of my party,” he declared.