The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen on Monday announced the names of its candidates from seven Assembly and Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituencies.
While MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi will contest from Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, Akbaruddin Owaisi, Ahmed Balala, Mohammad Maozam Khan, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan and Ahmed Pasha Quadri have been re-nominated from Chandrayangutta, Malakpet, Bahadurpura, Yakutpura and Charminar Assembly segments. The party dropped two sitting MLAs Muqteda Afsar Khan and Virasat Rasool Khan who were elected from Karwan and Nampally seats in 2009 elections. They have been replaced with Jaffer Hussain Meraj (Nampally) and Syed Kausar Mohiuddin (Karwan).
According to sources, Afsar Khan has been dropped following his ill-health. Although there were speculations that he would be replaced with his relative and Asaduddin Owaisi’s cousin Yasser Arafat, the MIM President selected Syed Kausar Mohiuddin, husband of MIM’s Nanal Nagar GHMC Corporator Najma Sultana.
Similarly, former Deputy Mayor Jaffar Hussain Meraj has been chosen as the candidate from Nampally segment which had at least half-a-dozen aspirants. Sitting MLA Virasat Rasool Khan, GHMC Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain, GHMC floor leader Mohammad Nazeeruddin, Yasser Arafat, Shadan Group founder Vizarath Rasool Khan’s son Saqib Rasool Khan, Haj Committee member Mahmood Engineer and a few other leaders were aspirants for Nampally ticket. However, Meraj Hussain got the ticket although he was reportedly keen on contesting from Karwan.
By releasing the first list of candidates a month before the polling, Asaduddin Owaisi broke the MIM’s tradition of announcing the candidates on the last day of filing nomination.
The MIM is likely to release another list of candidates in the next two-three days, sources said.
Addressing a meeting of office bearers of MIM’s Primary Units at Darulsalaam earlier on Monday, Asaduddin Owaisi enthralled youth to ensure 100 per cent polling in their areas. He appealed to the Muslims to realise the importance of their votes and use them to send their representatives in the legislative bodies. He asked the people to defeat communal forces in the country and stop BJP’s Narendra Modi from becoming the Prime Minister. (INN)