From party driver to expelled MLC: The political journey of Ex-AIMIM leader Mirza Rahmath Baig

Mirza Rahmath Baig, who rose from being a driver to AIMIM MLC, faced expulsion from the party amid a controversy over an alleged sexual misconduct video. He denied the charges, claiming the clip was morphed or AI-generated, and sought police action.

Hyderabad: From working as a driver for a senior AIMIM leader to becoming a member of the Telangana Legislative Council, the political journey of Mirza Rahmath Baig was marked by a gradual rise through the ranks of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

Baig, also known as Mirza Rahmath Baig Quadri, began his association with the AIMIM as a grassroots worker. In the early years, he worked as a driver for the late Syed Sajjad, who represented the Karwan Assembly constituency and later worked with Ahmed Pasha Quadri, another prominent AIMIM leader.

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Over the years, Baig emerged as a trusted grassroots functionary and was given greater responsibilities within the party and appointed as an in-charge of Rajendranagar Assembly constituency and later handled responsibilities in Goshamahal. His proximity to AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and party floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi helped him emerge as one of the party’s prominent organisational figures.

Baig’s first major electoral test came in the 2018 Telangana Assembly elections, when he was fielded from the Rajendranagar constituency and securing 46,547 votes, finished third in the contest. In 2023, the party selected him as its candidate for the Hyderabad Local Authorities’ Constituency of the Legislative Council.

His political career, however, suffered a major setback last week when the AIMIM, without specifying any specific reason, announced his expulsion from the party and asked him to resign from his MLC position.

The action came amid controversy surrounding a video alleging sexual misconduct that circulated on social media. Baig denied any wrongdoing and approached the Cybercrime Police, alleging that unidentified persons were threatening and blackmailing him using purported morphed or AI-generated videos. The authenticity and circumstances surrounding the video remain matters requiring verification.