Which way will Muslims go - BRS or Congress?

Which way will the Muslim voters go in Telangana? This question is troubling both the ruling BRS and the Congress Party alike. Both the parties are preparing strategies to woo the Muslim voters in the state. Both the parties are making claims that the Muslim voters are with them.

Muslims constitute 14 percent of the total population in Telangana. They can significantly influence the electoral outcome in 35 to 40 assembly constituencies in the state. In constituencies like the ones in the Old City, the AIMIM holds the sway. It has seven MLAs in its kitty, while it can win another two seats in Hyderabad.

However, the BRS has given tickets to only three Muslim candidates. Of them, only one is a serious candidate. Mohammed Shakeel of Bodhan is a sitting MLA, while Ibrahim Lodi and Inayat Ali Bakri are non-serious candidates from Charminar and Bahadurpur constituencies. They are likely to help the MIM win the seats.

The Congress wants to use this to drive home the point that the BRS only poses as a friend of minorities and that it has done practically nothing for the Muslims. The Congress campaign is spearheaded by former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir. However, Shabbir Ali has a major challenge in his seat of Kamareddy as CM KCR himself is contesting from there.