‘Broad-based’ MIM shifts gears

There appears to be a major shift in the attitude of the MIM and its party chief Asaduddin Owaisi. This was evident after his tour of Seemandhra, while campaigning for the local body elections.

In the recently held close door meeting, prior to releasing the list of candidates, the MIM has for the first time fixed dos and don’ts for the party workers. One of the important instructions, which were made by the party president, is ‘no criticism of any religion’, besides ‘no character assassination’ of rivals and not to burn fire crackers.

Owaisi felt that not being able to communicate in Telugu was a major drawback. He wishes to address the linguistic problem in right earnest. “I shall deliver my speeches in Telugu in 2019”, he said on Sunday.

The party, which supported an undivided Andhra Pradesh, has fielded an unlikely candidate from Malkajgiri Lok Sabha segment, Sridhar Dharani Kota. The 28-year-old studied MS in New Jersey. He comes from a low profile family of businessman based in Monda Market, whose father, Ulligadda Sudhakar Mudiraj, is a familiar figure in the area.

Another non-Muslim candidate who will be contesting on the MIM ticket is Motial, who is pitted against the formidable Congress leader, Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, in Bhongir Lok Sabha constituency.

However the party leadership feels that the MIM hopes to reflect the strategy adopted for GHMC elections on a larger scale.