We are the right choice for Old City: MIM

Hyderabad: The AIMIM is confident that there would be no dent in its vote bank in the Old City. “Log Gali Dete Hain par vote Bhi Denge,” says a senior AIMIM leader. What makes the AIMIM so confident despite the fact that Congress, TRS, TDP-BJP combine are campaigning in the Old City areas and feel that they would be able to make a dent in AIMIM bastion.

AIMIM leaders say that people have realized that whatever development has taken place in the Old City was only because of the consistent efforts made by the AIMIM despite facing several odds as they were in alliance either with the TDP or the Congress till recently. These parties promised many things and won with MIM support but once in power, they did not bother to develop the Old City.

Several proposals by the party were kept pending. Things started moving to some extent only when AIMIM corporator became the mayor, they claim. But the Congress party has a different argument. According to Mohd Shabbir Ali, in the past the BJP used to have a strong leadership particularly when A Narendra and Baddam Bal Reddy were active in the Old City politics.

The MIM used to win the elections telling the people that if they don’t vote for MIM, BJP would come to power. After wining they never bothered to develop the Old City. MIM and Congress will have tough fight in at least 15 wards in Old City, including Barkas, Chandrayangutta, Doodh Bowli, Shah Ali Banda, Puranapul, Ghansi Bazar, Dabeerpura, Gowlipura, I S Sadan and Santosh Nagar, he added.

According to TTDP leaders, MIM is an expert in booth management and on the day of polling they succeed in getting all their votes cast. If there is free and fair voting in Old City, MIM will have tough time as there is perceptible change in the thinking of people, they say.

Former MBT Corporator, Amjedullah Khan told The Hans India that they were approaching people with the promise of providing basic amenities. “So far winning candidates used to go into “disable mode”, but the MBT is promising that all its candidates would always be available for the people. I had developed Chanchalguda, Azampura and now I shall be developing Akbarbagh and other areas where there are several parks and libraries, which are in poor condition.

I am confident that this time we will give a tough fight to MIM,” he said. While the political parties have their own claims, the common people in areas which are considered to be the strongholds of MIM substantiate the claim that when elections come they vote for the Majlis party.

Ahmed bin Saleh, a businessman in Chandrayangutta, said, “there are issues pertaining to water, street light and sewage system in Barkas. Areas like Ghouse Nagar are completely neglected by successive corporators. This time other parties are also campaigning but they have not been able to influence me. We lament but contintue to vote for MIM,” he said.

Syed Faheemuddin, who runs a travel agency in Shaikpet, said, “we have tried the Congress corporator and he has failed to deliver. This time we will give a chance to MIM. Though there is a TRS candidate also in the fray, he is not very popular and as far as BJP-TDP combine is concerned, I am not ready to vote for them.”

Mohammed Jabbar, student from Shalibanda, said he would vote for the “kite”. “I have no special reason but I am following what my family members are doing,” he said. Dr Faheem, a dentist in Bagh Amberpet says he would have preferred to vote MIM, but since they do not have a candidate here he is left to chose between the Congress and BJP. “I would prefer MIM any day,” he said.

Abdullah Hadi, an expatriate and resident of Aghapura, said that MIM is the only party led by Muslims. “It may have hundreds of vices, but it is the only party which can reflect grievances of the community in Parliament, Assembly or Corporation.”