SOURCE :- SIASAT NEWS
Hyderabad: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is making its most organised attempt yet to gain a foothold in Andhra Pradesh, fielding candidates in seven urban local bodies for the November 1 civic polls and aiming for the Kadapa mayor’s post and the chairperson’s post in Hindupur municipality.
The Hyderabad-based party, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has sent six of its Telangana MLAs, an MLC and senior leaders from three states to campaign. Its leaders see the elections as a test of whether the party can grow beyond its stronghold in Telangana.
Fewer seats, sharper focus
AIMIM’s Andhra Pradesh in-charge Samad Bin Abdad told The Times of India that the party had filed nominations for 31 candidates but brought the number down to 20. He said the idea was to contest only where the party had a real chance, rather than spread its resources across every municipality.
Party sources told TOI that Owaisi had given the state unit the same advice.
AIMIM has fielded Shaik Naseem Banu for the Kadapa mayor’s post. In the ward contests, it has candidates in seven wards in Adoni, four in Hindupur, three in Vijayawada and one each in Nandyal and Penukonda, besides Rayadurg. Six of the party’s 20 candidates are women.
The party had earlier won a ward in Hindupur and two in Adoni, and leaders said the polls would show how much ground it had gained since.
MLAs from Hyderabad on the ground
Samad is running the campaign, with each senior leader given charge of particular towns and wards.
Bahadurpura MLA Mohammed Mubeen is campaigning for the party’s mayoral candidate in Kadapa, while Malakpet MLA Ahmed Bin Abdullah Balala is handling Adoni.
Nampally MLA Majid Hussain campaigned in Anantapur, Penukonda and Hindupur before moving on to Vijayawada. Yakutpura MLA Jaffer Hussain Meraj toured Nandyal, Penukonda and Hindupur. MLC Riyaz ul Hasan Effendi has also joined the campaign.
Leaders from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are also campaigning for the party.
Eye on Assembly polls
Party leaders said the effort was part of a longer plan to build a base in Kadapa, Vijayawada, Nandyal, Anantapur and Hindupur.
AIMIM leaders have also visited towns such as Madanapalle, where the party has no candidates. They told TOI that the aim was to raise the party’s profile ahead of future elections.
A senior leader said the results would help shape the party’s approach to the next Assembly elections in the state.
Polling will be held on November 1 in 13 municipal corporations and 87 municipalities and nagar panchayats across Andhra Pradesh. Votes will be counted on November 3.
The polls were originally scheduled for October 28 but were pushed back after Supreme Court directions on complaints over the nomination process.
AIMIM is up against the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-Jana Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance, the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Congress.
SOURCE : SIASAT
