“This is called politics.”
Hyderabad: Discord brews within the ranks of the Congress party as Muslim leaders express discontent over the selection of the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat candidate. Supreme Court lawyer Shahnaz Tabassum, chosen by the party’s central leadership to contest against incumbent MP Asaduddin Owaisi from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has sparked controversy among minority leaders.
The decision to field Tabassum has drawn criticism from within the Telangana Congress unit, with senior leaders feeling sidelined. Tabassum, though respected in legal circles and serving as the founder and national president of All India Azaad Congress Party, is viewed as an “outsider” by some within the party ranks.
“A smooth sailing with Muslim votes is Revanth Reddy’s priority, hence the alliance with AIMIM. But what about our loyal party members who have toiled for years? Tabassum may be a respected lawyer, but she lacks the grassroots connection to mount a credible challenge,” remarked a senior Congress Muslim leader, preferring anonymity.
The discontent extends to the defunct state of the party’s minority cell, with leaders lamenting the lack of direction and representation. The absence of a chairman in the minority cell, following Sheikh Abdullah Sohail’s departure to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has further exacerbated the situation.
A senior TPCC member hinted at the Congress’s strategic maneuvering to maintain friendly relations with the AIMIM, a surprising turn given Owaisi’s vocal criticism of the party. The Congress’s initial plan to support the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, following a close contest in last year’s Assembly polls, has also been abandoned.
“The Congress seems indifferent to fielding a strong Muslim contender against Owaisi, despite its electoral potential. This reluctance underscores the party’s lack of cohesive Muslim leadership in the state,” emphasized a minority leader from the Congress.
With Telangana offering 17 Lok Sabha seats, the AIMIM’s stronghold on Hyderabad since 1984 presents a formidable challenge for any opposing candidate. In 2019, Owaisi secured a significant victory with approximately five lakh votes, leaving his closest competitor from the BJP trailing with 2.35 lakh votes. As the electoral battleground heats up, internal dissent within the Congress threatens to undermine its prospects in the crucial Hyderabad constituency.
