AIMIM mulls options for Jubilee Hills by-election

AIMIM is considering whether to field its own candidate or support Congress in the Jubilee Hills by-election. Party president Asaduddin Owaisi said a decision will be made soon, highlighting AIMIM’s outreach to both Muslim and backward class communities

Hyderabad: For the forthcoming Jubilee Hills assembly by-election, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is reported to be considering its options and is expected to decide whether to field its own candidate or extend support to a candidate from another political party.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, in an interaction with media on Tuesday, said, “Within one or two days, a decision on fielding a candidate will be taken after consulting the party members concerned.”

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Six GHMC divisions including Yousufguda, Rahmathnagar, Erragadda, Vengal Rao Nagar, Shaikpet and Borabanda, fall under the Jubilee Hills assembly constituency, apart from some areas of Srinagar Colony, Somajiguda and Venkateshwara Colony. The AIMIM had won two seats, Shaikpet and Erragadda, in previous GHMC elections, while prior to that, the party had also won the Borabanda seat.

There are roughly 1.30 lakh Muslim voters in the Jubilee Hills constituency. Several localities in the constituency are inhabited by backward class communities.

The AIMIM enjoys support among Muslims and other backward classes in city assembly constituencies, particularly Malakpet and Nampally. Party leaders are trying to distance themselves from the perception that the party represents only the Muslim community. “AIMIM’s reach or votes are not limited to only Muslim voters. We had a corporator from a backward class in the Jubilee Hills constituency earlier. We take along other backward communities as well,” said Asaduddin Owaisi.

There are speculations that AIMIM may extend support to Congress candidate V Naveen Yadav in the forthcoming election. Naveen Yadav had previously contested on an AIMIM ticket in the 2014 elections and contested as an independent in 2019. In 2023, Mohammad Rashad Farazuddin, AIMIM corporator from Shaikpet, was fielded by the party.