In a bid to break the longstanding dominance of Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Hyderabad, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is employing a multi-pronged strategy. The BJP’s Telangana unit is leaving no stone unturned to sway the Muslim electorate, employing tactics ranging from door-to-door campaigns to fielding new faces like Madhavi Latha.
The decision to field Madhavi Latha, an activist and chairperson of Hyderabad-based Virinchi Hospitals, for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat has raised eyebrows. Latha’s campaign focuses not only on development but also on empowering Muslim women, a move aimed at challenging Owaisi‘s stronghold.
Latha accuses Owaisi of not adequately addressing the issues faced by Muslim women, particularly regarding instant triple talaq and women’s empowerment. She asserts that Islamic scriptures have been misinterpreted to maintain patriarchal dominance in Muslim society and aims to address these issues head-on.
However, Latha’s candidacy faces skepticism among Hyderabad’s Muslim population, with some expressing unfamiliarity with her and questioning her political viability. Political analysts also doubt the BJP’s ability to make significant inroads in a constituency long dominated by the AIMIM.
Despite the uphill battle, the BJP is actively engaging with Muslim voters through initiatives such as door-to-door campaigns and iftar parties. The party is leveraging the triple talaq law as a cornerstone of its outreach efforts, emphasizing its role in empowering Muslim women.
However, the success of BJP’s strategy remains uncertain, with analysts pointing out the challenges of overcoming existing party loyalties and the deep-rooted influence of Owaisi in Hyderabad’s political landscape.
As the political contest unfolds, all eyes are on Hyderabad to see whether the BJP’s efforts will be enough to disrupt Owaisi’s reign and reshape the city’s political dynamics.