They jump into poll fray to help rivals win!

​Hyderabad: Political leaders contesting the elections generally want to win them. However, the scenario in Old City is totally different as the candidates throw in their hat despite knowing that fact that their chances of winning the seat are bleak. Some political parties even field candidates to divide the votes and ensure victory of a particular party.

While parties generally choose winning horses, they do sometimes field a candidate who can be a good vote cutter. More so is the case with the constituencies which are represented by the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in the Old City. According to locals in the Old City, the Majlis somehow wins the confidence of the ruling party and makes sure the ruling party does not come in the way of their victory.

The candidates also bargain for a ticket from these constituencies only to lose, they said. The ruling TRS has announced candidates in some of the constituencies in Old City and according to political analysts, these candidates are mostly the vote cutters. In Karwan Assembly constituency, the TRS has given ticket to T Jeevan Singh, who came third with 10,760 votes during 2014 elections. While BJP’s Baddam Balreddy secured 48,614 votes and stood second, MIM candidate Kausar Mohiuddin secured 86,391 votes winning the seat.

In Malakpet, the TRS re-nominated C Satish Kumar, who secured 11,378 votes securing third place. Deputy Chief Minister Md Mahamood Ali wanted ticket for his son from this constituency. But as per the alliance with MIM, the TRS has decided to field a weak candidate because Mahamood Ali’s son would cut the minority votes, which the MIM candidate bank up on, said a BJP leader. “If the TRS says MIM is its ally then why it fields candidates from here?” he asked.

The party has nominated Inayat Ali Baqri from the Bahadurpura Assembly constituency. However, according to TRS leaders, Baqri is involved in political activity in Charminar constituency. Similar is the case with Nampally Assembly constituency, where the party has nominated M Anand Goud. Anand Goud has been active in Goshamahal
constituency, but he was given a seat which is unfamiliar to him. Anand Goud had contested in the GHMC elections from Jambagh division and lost to MIM with just a difference of five votes.

The locals in these constituency said that this phenomenon was not new for them and it was there since the Congress regime. Several leaders in the Old City alleged that Congress had not encouraged Muslim leaders from their locality. This time, the Congress has declared that it would field strong Muslim minority candidate since there is no understanding with the Majlis.

Minority leader of TRS Rashid Shareef, who had contested from Hyderabad Lok Sabha in 2014 elections, vent his ire for neglecting the minority leaders from the Old City. He said that though TRS has good support from minorities, the ruling party has handed over the constituencies to Majlis without even consulting the local leaders.

According to TRS sources, the party leaders would not be taking up campaign in these seven segments during the elections since they have said that MIM was their ally. Even during the GHMC elections, Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao travelled extensively in the city but ignored the Old City.