Congress sure of Muslim votes

MIM, Congress never had pre-poll pact

With the estrangement between the Congress and the MIM growing, are Muslim voters still with the Congress? Yes, according to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Congress leaders are confident that Muslims favour their party. In Telangana, Muslim voters are a deciding factor in nearly 50 Assembly constituencies out of 119. In 30 constituencies, Muslims have a 30 per cent vote share, and in every constituency they have a vote share of 10 to 20 per cent.

It is therefore being surmised that the differences between the two parties will not have too much of a bearing on the Congress’

Muslim voters are a deciding factor in nearly 50 Assembly constituencies out of the 119 in Telangana region

chances of winning the general elections. The Chief Minister is confident that Muslims will vote in favour of the Congress. In fact, the Congress never had a prepoll alliance with the MIM, only a post-poll understanding, and therefore it made no difference, the CM said.

The MIM is strong in the old city and some pockets of Telangana, but draws a blank in Seemandhra.

Former minister Mohamad Jani said the MIM had a strong base in the constituencies of Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts.

The Muslims would vote for the Congress because it was their party that brought four per cent reservations for Muslim minorities in education and employment, Mr Jani said. Reacting to the YSR Congress’ claims that four per cent reservations for Muslims were brought in by the late YSR, and not the Congress, Mr Jani asked, “Which party did YSR belong to then? Was he not a Congress chief minister?”

The Chief Minister is now planning to defeat the MIM in Hyderabad itself, where it has a strong base.