Even as Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi has dropped hints of fielding candidates in over 60 seats in Karnataka for the upcoming Assembly polls, the Congress party has drawn up a counter plan.
Congress strategists view the electoral forays by MIM, AAP, SDPI and some other smaller outfits in Karnataka as a ploy by the BJP to create a division in voters to fare well in the closely contested Assembly elections.
Congress is planning to deploy its Muslim leaders in Assembly seats where AIMIM would be in the fray to create awareness among the voters that a "vote for Owaisi is a vote for BJP".
"We had tasted success in the civic polls in Bengaluru as well as Nanded in Maharashtra where AIMIM is trying to gain a foothold," a senior Congress leader said. In the 2012 Maharashatra elections, AIMIM had won 11 seats, while it failed to open its account in the elections last year.
The AIMIM had managed to win a sizable number of seats in Nanded and Aurangabad civic bodies in the previous civic polls that had put Congress leaders on an alert about its waning influence among the minorities.
During the civic elections last year, several Muslim leaders of the Congress from neighbouring Nizamabad in Telangana were pressed for campaign in Nanded, the home district of former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan.
"We expect AIMIM to put up candidates in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, and northern Karnataka where the going may be tough for the BJP," the Congress leader said.
Even in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections in 2015, Congress leaders had trailed Owaisi with its Muslim leaders visiting wards where AIMIM had campaigned cautioning them of the BJP's plans. Owaisi had fielded 30 candidates in Muslim-dominated wards during the BBMP elections apparently to eat into Congress votes.
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I request my muslims brothers and sisters please dont vote MIM because they do nothing for minority people in hyderabad. Always both brothers polarise the vote bank politics and come into power but development is zero. Since thier late father salauddin owaisi is also playing the same role. Please elect the correct person who can do good for all communities in secular way.
But you have to understand, it is a simple ploy by BJP to break the opposition. The same happened at the centre. The same will happen in Karnataka if you divert votes. Atleast, Karnataka is away from all the dirty politics BJP plays once it comes to power. Look at what is happening in UP. You want them to come in power, choose to vote for a party which doesn't have a chance to get majority. And don't crib about it later, that a party is in power which doesn't care about Muslims. Choose your vote wisely. Nothing against Mr Owaisi, but to cast ur vote for a party which doesn't have a clear cut chance to be in power - is simply contributing towards the success of BJP's plan. Simple divide n rule!
In my opinion MIM should coordinate with local political party and avoid splitting of minority votes thereby supporting bjp. MIM should contest on its own only if its 100 percent sure to win otherwise votes given to MIM will be waste and it will benefit anti national bjp. Congress less better than bjp.
SO WHAT IF BJP COMES TO POWER IN KARNATAKA........ FOR MUSLIMS BOTH BJP AND CONGRESS ARE SAME... BOTH THEY DONT SUPPORT MUSLIMS AND THEY DONT EVEN CARE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSLIMS.... DEAR CONGRESS LEADER, JUST CHEKC YOUR LAST ELECTION MANIFESTO FOR MUSLIMS AND CHECK HOW MANY POINTS YOU HAVE COMPLETED FOR MUSLIMS.... BJP PLAYING OPENLY AND CONGRESS FROM THE BACK SIDE OF THE MUSLIMS LIFE...... NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTH THE PARTIES........... SO MUSLIMS VOTE FOR OTHER PARTY THAN CONGRESS... CONGRESS IS JUST USING MUSLIMS AS VOTE BANK AND NO RESERVATION, NO DEVELOPMENT, NO PROTECTION, NO COMPENSATION, NO JUSTICE FOR MUSLIMS.... IF MUSLIM KILLED NO CONGRESS LEADER WILL COME FORWARD FOR JUSTICE... NOT EVEN MUSLIM LEADERS OF CONGRESS PARTY WILL COME.....
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