MIM makes desperate moves to win lone MLC seat

Seeks support of Congress and TDP Hyderabad: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) is exploring the possibility of joining hands with either Congress or TDP. MIM had recently snapped its relations with the Congress. This move is to ensure that the MIM wins the lone MLC seat under the Local Body Authorities' constituency. MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on Friday met Marketing Minister Mukesh Goud in the lobbies of the State Assembly and asked him to see that the Congress supports the MIM candidate. Mukesh did not give any assurance in this regard. A little later, Minority Welfare Minister Ahmadullah called on Akbaruddin and requested him to extend latter's support to the Congress nominee in the same elections. Soon after that, Akbar met TDP deputy leader M Narsimhulu and urged the party to support his party. Narsimhulu indicated that they too were contemplating to field a candidate, but said that he would discuss the issue with party president N Chandrababu Naidu and get back to him. This led to speculations that MIM and TDP were getting closer. Later, an MIM MLA told media, "We have sought the support of the Congress as well as the TDP to bag the lone MLC seat under the Hyderabad Local Authorities Constituency. We have informed both the parties that if one party is not ready to support our candidate, then we will go with the other party." It may be recalled that MIM had been highly critical of Congress and had called Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy as an 'agent' of the Sangh Parivar. They also boycotted voting during the no-confidence motion.