Struggling for an image makeover following Akbaruddin Owaisi’s arrest in a hate speech case, All India Majlise Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Wednesday received a timely shot in arm when its women candidate from the Hindu OBC community defeated the Congress’s Muslim candidate in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation by elections.
AIMIM candidate Bhanumathi defeated her closet rival, Congress party’s candidate Hajira Sultana by 1,282 votes.
While AIMIM’s V. Bhanumathi got 5,241 votes, Hajira Sultana of Congress got 3,959 votes and TDP candidate A.K. Kavita 2,438 votes.
Candidates from other parties like BJP, JDU, Lok Satta lost their deposits in the elections in which 50% of the total 24,000 electorates had cast their votes for the Borabanda municipal seat reserved for women candidate.
AMIM was desperate to make a Hindu women candidate get elected on their ticket to give a loud message after its leader Akbaruddin Owaisi hate speech controversy.
Party president Asaduddin Owaisi and General Secretary Ahmed Pasha Quadri personally campaigned in the constituency.
The Congress by fielding a Muslim candidate and registering win wanted to ascertain that Muslims are with the party, despite AIMIM’s departure from the alliance.
The caste of Ms. Bhanumathi also holds significance for AIMIM as party is trying hard to attract Dalits and OBC’s into its fold.
Borabanda municipal constituency is important for AIMIM as it falls under Jubliee Hills assembly constituency, where in the upcoming state election Majlis is planning to field party’s OBC Hindu face G.V.G Naidu.