In the run-up to the highly anticipated Telangana elections, the political landscape is witnessing a significant shift in Muslim voting patterns. Muslim organizations have openly advocated for their community to throw support behind the Congress party, leading to a seismic change in the electoral dynamics.
Muslim votes, comprising nearly 13% of the 3.26 crore eligible voters, have become a pivotal factor in the upcoming polls. The Congress party, sensing the opportunity to capitalize on this voting bloc, has intensified its efforts to secure their allegiance. The move comes after various Muslim organizations explicitly urged their community members to rally behind the Congress.
Drawing parallels to the political developments in Karnataka, where a similar consolidation of Muslim votes proved decisive, the Congress in Telangana seems poised to replicate this strategy. Meanwhile, the BRS and Congress are engaged in a fierce competition to woo the Muslim electorate, recognizing its potential to shape the electoral outcome.
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Notably, Asaduddin Owaisi of the MIM has thrown his weight behind the BRS, urging Muslim voters to support the party in constituencies where MIM is not contesting. However, this appeal has been met with skepticism and discontent among Muslims due to various grievances against the BRS.
One major source of dissatisfaction is the demolition of eight mosques, a move that has irked many within the Muslim community. Furthermore, concerns about the perceived lack of Muslim representation in the government and the absence of a promised 12% reservation for Muslims have fueled resentment against the BRS.
Surveys indicate that the faith of around 60 out of 119 constituencies hangs in the balance, contingent upon the decisions of Muslim voters. This has turned the spotlight on the Muslim community, with its voting preferences becoming a decisive factor in the electoral arithmetic.
In an eleventh-hour bid to sway Muslim voters, the BRS has announced various schemes. Meanwhile, Chief Minister KCR, in a bid to retain Muslim support, declared the creation of 1 lakh jobs in a special IT park for Muslim youth during a rally in Maheshwaram.
Despite these last-minute efforts, there appears to be a palpable shift in Muslim voter focus towards the Congress party. As the November 30th polling date approaches, all eyes are on whether Chief Minister KCR can work his magic once again to secure the crucial Muslim votes that could prove instrumental in shaping the outcome of the Telangana elections in 2023.
