Asaduddin Owaisi looks at new
heights with his Broader Ambitions

The Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won 7 of the 8 seats it contested in the Telangana assembly polls, retaining its hold in its conventional bastion of the Old City of Hyderabad. All the seven sitting MLAs, including Owaisi's brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, were re-elected.

MIM had fielded candidates in 8 of the 119 assembly segments while supporting the TRS elsewhere across the State. AIMIM fielded Mirza Rahmat Baig in Rajendranagar, which the party contested as the additional seat this time, and was the lone loser.

Now, AIMIM is eyeing Musheerabad and Jubilee Hills assembly constituencies for the 2023 elections. These two assembly constituencies are located outside the Old City and are currently represented by its friendly party, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). These 2 Assembly seats have a sizeable Muslim population, and AIMIM is preparing to win these 2 seats first and extend its bastion outside the old city.

Since 2014, AIMIM and TRS have shared a 'friendly relationship'; although the two parties are not part of a formal alliance, and support each other whenever necessary. But, Asaduddin Owaisi thinks BJP's strengthening in the State is due to KCR's mistakes. Hence, planning to secure their Fortress.

AIMIM perceives that If the AIMIM is confined to just 7 seats, the BJP, with the support of the BJP-led Modi government at the Centre, will make every effort to destroy it to please its vote bank. If the AIMIM wins at least 12-15 MLAs in the assembly, it can stiffly fight the BJP."

The MIM aims for some strong Muslim-dominated constituencies in Adilabad, Nizamabad, and Karimnagar, where the party has a strong cadre and vote base. The party had also won several seats in Nizamabad, Nirmal, and Adilabad municipalities.

The AIMIM also hopes to attract the OBC and Dalit factions in parts of north Telangana by offering them MIM tickets.

Since there is intense anti-incumbency against the TRS (BRS), those who do not want the Saffron Party to replace the TRS might lean towards the AIMIM," the party sources said.

If in case Congress wins majority seats in the 2023 assembly elections leading to a hung situation, the AIMIM will prefer to make the most out of it. For that, it has to prepare the ground from now on. It wants to get out of the influence of KCR.