Wearing saffron turban Owaisi campaigns for BJP’s potential ally in Karnataka

Bengaluru, May 10: Asaduddin Owaisi, the president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), has courted a controversy by wearing a saffron turban when he addressed a Janata Dal (Secular) rally in poll-bound Karnataka.

Owaisi, who is facing allegations of helping BJP candidates in several states by fielding his party’s candidates to divide Muslim votes, had decided to field around 50 MIM candidates in May 12 polls for Karnataka Legislative Assembly. However, following a meeting with JD(S) leaders, he changed his decision and announced complete support to the party of H D Kumaraswamy who had once formed coalition government with BJP in Karnataka.

Earlier this week, Owaisi, who is a member of parliament from Hyderabad, hit the campaign trail in Karnataka and attacked chief minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka while urging the people to support Kumaraswamy, who recently in a public rally in Chikkamagaluru had expressed his readiness to join hands with any party to form the government.

Known for being outspoken against both Congress and BJP, the habitually skullcap-wearing Owaisi turned many heads when he emerged in an artfully tied saffron turban at a public gathering in Belagavi.

The photos and videos of Owaisi with saffron turban are now going viral on social media within Muslims of the state who consider Siddarmaiah a non-communal politician accusing the MIM chief of trying to help BJP again by joining hands with JD(S). 

In his speech, Owaisi said that people of Karnataka fed up with the Siddarmaiah government and formation of a non-Congress and non-BJP government was need of the hour. “Hence, I am here to campaign for the JD(S),” he said adding that the regional parties should take centre-stage and end the era of national parties.