The Changing Fortunes Of Majlis Party

The Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (MIM) was on an ascent before the present round of troubles began for the party. For the first time since its rebirth in 1957, the party had seven MLAs, two MLCs and a member in the Lok Sabha. If sources are to be believed, it had almost clinched a Rajya Sabha seat in a deal with the Congress two years ago. 
    
In the GHMC area, MIM is the second largest party after the Congress and now the first citizen of Hyderabad, 

Mayor Majid Hussain is from its ranks. Old-timers recall that the party, after edging out the BJP from core areas of the Old City like Chandrayangutta in the 1980s, put its stamp of domination on the Karwan assembly seat. It also successfully snatched the Asifnagar assembly seat from the Congress. After winning Malakpet for the first time in 2009, MIM was consolidating its influence on the seat. 
    
The MIM is now eyeing the Jubilee Hills seat and there’s a buzz that the party would field a candidate from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency in 2014. And, analysts believe that the party would try its luck outside Hyderabad, in Telangana district headquarters such as Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Sangareddy and field candidates from Kurnool and Anantapur in Rayalaseema. 
    
Of late, MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has been emphasising the need to reach out to the BCs, SCs and STs. 

Several sections of the marginalised groups in Telangana feel that if the new state comes about, the dominant force there would comprise the castes and groups that have never been politically empowered. That would translate into a prominent role for the MIM. 
    
While bringing about a noticeable change in the party policies Asaduddin Owaisi was cultivating his own image as a leader capable of giving expression to issues faced by the nation. That had got him a place in the league of national leaders and some analysts had begun to describe him as a new ‘voice of Indian Muslims.’ 

But in a sudden and unexpected development, Akbaruddin Owaisi’s speech shook the foundations of the castle that MIM was building. Many observers believed that it would take a long time for the MIM to outlive the negative impact of the speech. But they are now surprised to see a turnaround in the fortunes of the party. The arrest of Asaduddin in a seven-year-old case has created the impression that the party’s leadership is being targeted by Kiran Kumar Reddy’s government. 

Many independent human rights activists who had earlier condemned the Nirmal speech of Akbaruddin and asked for action against him are now saying that the sedition charge invoked is unjustified and should be dropped. The regular appearance of photographs in the press of a weak Akbaruddin with pain writ large on his face is also helping to convert his image from that of a violator of law to a persecuted politician. Ironically, the war over his alleged hate speech on the internet, the incessant attack by the right-wing activists and the mushrooming of cases against him are all contributing to his popularity. 
    
In a scenario like this it seems that if after a long and bitter trial Akbaruddin is acquitted, he would be seen as a hero by his followers. And, if he is convicted, he will still be seen as a hero as someone who did not care for his failing health and personal security in the process of becoming the voice of his followers. Intriguingly, it looks like a win-win situation for Akbaruddin. 
    
However, it would be interesting to see how the whole episode plays on the voters in the next round of election. Right now it seems that Kiran Kumar Reddy’s obsession to cut down the MIM leadership to size has already hurt the Congress’ standing among the Muslims.