Hyderabad: With the AIMIM deciding to enter minority-dominated municipalities and corporations in a big way, the state will witness a four-cornered contest in the forthcoming polls for the urban local bodies.
The MIM had a good showing in the civic body elections in 2014 in Adilabad, Tandur, Nirmal and Bhainsa municipalities and the Nizamabad Municipal Corporation.
Sources in the MIM disclosed that the party leadership is of the opinion that since 90 per cent of the Muslim population in the state is urban-based, allowing a triangular fight between the ruling TRS, Congress and the BJP in predominantly Muslim majority areas would benefit the Congress, and in some pockets, the BJP.
Instead of giving scope to others, the party has decided to concentrate on the areas where the minorities’ population is crucial in deciding the victor.
Minorities are in considerable numbers in the erstwhile districts of Nizamabad, Adilabad, Medak, Mahbubnagar Warangal, Karimnagar and Ranga Reddy.
The state government had in March 2018 increased number of municipalities from 68 to 142 and municipal corporations from six to 13. In view of the creation of the new urban local bodies, the MIM leadership plans to expand its base by contesting the maximum number of ULBs.
During the 2014 civic polls, the MIM shared power in Nizamabad Municipal Corporation, Tandur and some other municipalities and it had won the Adilabad and Bhainsa municipalities.
Sources in the party revealed that the MIM leadership is keen on contesting and gain power in Kamareddy, Bodhan, Jagtial, Armoor, Sultanabad, Huzurabad, Zaheerabad, Husnabad, Sangareddy, Medak and Shamshabad and also improve its strength in Karimnagar and Ramgundam Corporations.
The MIM had its deputy mayor in Nizamabad and is now aiming for the post of mayor. The party is also eyeing the newly-constituted Corporations of Badangpet, Bandlaguda Jagir, Meerpet Jillelaguda, Boduppal, Peerzadiguda, Jawaharnagar and Nizampet. This it plans to do by contesting a considerable number of divisions.
