Hyderabad Lok Sabha Election 2024: Asaduddin Owaisi's Legacy VS. Madhavi Latha's Challenge

Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and his opponent from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Madhavi Latha, a chairperson of Virinchi Hospitals participated in the voting process in Hyderabad for the fourth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on Monday, May 13.

Owaisi exercised his voting right in Vattepally within the Rajendra Nagar PS limits while his main opponent, Latha cast her vote at the Amrita Vidyalayam polling station in Hyderabad today.

After casting her vote, Latha said, "I only have to tell all the voters that it is the responsibility of every citizen that they need to go out to vote because the vote brings two changes: 1) a new change and development towards themselves and their families, and 2) it allows changing the lives of the downtrodden, Dalits, poor and the lives of every elderly people who have been abandoned. Voting is the most precious social work, along with a selfish desire to move towards development. So I would say you may not have money but you have vote, then you have contributed to the nation to go towards 'Viksit Bharat'. And the best thing you all have to understand is 'Sabka Sath mai hi Sabka Vikas Hai, Alag Alag jeene mai vikas nhi hai."

On the other hand, Owaisi shared his thoughts after casting a vote, "Every election cannot be the same as it was 5 years ago. The challenges are different, issues are different. This is a very important, historic parliamentary election in our country...People have a different understanding and what they want for the country...Elections should always be taken seriously whether it is a Parliament election or a Panchayat election. We should always take our opponent seriously, " he said.

He further added, "The message (to PM Modi) would be that people do not agree with the BJP's ideology and people do not agree with the statements that PM Modi has given for on minority community. Please understand what PM Modi has done with Agniveer, he is now going to go ahead and do the same if he comes back to power with BSF, CRPF, RPF and SSP. Four years of service and you are out. People must understand that it will come out very soon."

For the past 40 years, the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency has been consistently represented by members of the Owaisi family. Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi secured victories in every election from 1984 to 1999, followed by his son, Owaisi, who has continued the legacy since 2004. Over the years, Owaisi has not only maintained but also expanded his winning margin in each election, starting from one lakh votes in his debut to an impressive 2.82 lakh votes in 2019. Before his parliamentary tenure, Owaisi served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) twice in the former undivided Andhra Pradesh.

The electoral dynamics might seem like a classic tale of underdog versus powerhouse, but the entry of Latha has transformed what seemed like a one-sided affair into a dramatic showdown. Renowned for her proficiency in Hindu scriptures, the BJP views her as a strategic move to appeal to the Hindutva vote bank.

During her campaign, Latha has delved deep into the alleys of the Old City, engaging in conversations with Muslim constituents, urging them to consider giving her a chance to improve their lives beyond religious affiliations. Emphasising her role in advocating for the triple talaq bill, she aims to empower Muslim women to vote independently.

However, dethroning the Owaisi is a formidable challenge, given that 59 per cent of the 1.95 million strong electorate is Muslim, with many considering the Owaisi family as their longstanding representatives.

Meanwhile, Latha alleges the existence of 6,00,000 bogus votes that allegedly favour Owaisi, a claim the BJP supports, citing the deletion of 5,40,000 voter names in Hyderabad district since January 2023. These deletions, attributed to duplicate entries, deceased voters, or relocations, are seen as validation of her claims. Owaisi, however, refutes accusations of winning through fraudulent means, questioning his authority over the Election Commission responsible for electoral roll preparation.

This year, to verify the situation firsthand, Latha visited polling booth number 122 in Azampur. There, she claimed to have observed discrepancies in the voter list, alleging that the names of several voters had been deleted. She shared this information with reporters.

"The Police personnel seem very dull, they are not active...They are not checking anything. Senior citizen voters are coming here but their names are deleted from the list. A few of them are residents of Goshamahal but their names are in the list of Rangareddy," she said.

However, voters in Hyderabad are not indiscriminate in their choices. Analysis of past assembly and parliamentary election results reveals a discerning electorate. The Muslim voter views Owaisi not merely as a local representative responsible for municipal issues but as a national voice for the Muslim community. They perceive him as someone who can advocate for minority interests in the Lok Sabha, holding the government accountable on minority-related matters across India. This perception has been pivotal to Owaisi's electoral triumphs.