Cold-shouldered minorities weigh options

​Hyderabad: Feeling let down by its own party leadership at the Centre and in state, several Congress leaders belonging to Muslim and Christian communities have been in search of greener pastures.

According to sources, some of these leaders working for over three decades have already contacted key leaders in BJP and TRS. Besides, a few others, for the first time, are exploring their options to join the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior leader from the Muslim community said that the population percentage of Muslims and Christians is the deciding factor in about 45 Assembly segments in Telangana. But, they were not given due representation in any of the committees constituted by the high command recently, he said.

The Congress party has been blaming that the TRS had given only two seats to Muslims out of 105, of its candidate for the ensuing Assembly elections. But, the assurance of the party president Rahul Gandhi and TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy to give minorities due representation remained on paper. This reflects in the ten committees constituted by the party, he said.

Another senior leader from Hyderabad city who had played a key role in Congress minority affairs in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh said, when the state is poll-bound, the party did not bother to give due representation in the coordination committee for the Telangana unit formed with 52 members.

Similarly, there is no due representation given to the Muslims and other minorities in the 17-member campaign committee, the 41- member Pradesh Congress Committee, 35-member manifesto committee, 20-member strategy and planning committee and the 15-member core committee, he alleged.

One more leader from the Christian minorities from Ranga Reddy district said that when we spoke to them they were silent, he alleged.

It was against these developments that few of these leaders have been roping in other leaders within the party from the minority communities to discuss the raw deal meted out to them.

"The TRS has already announced its candidates. So, we have to think twice before joining that party, though they welcomed us. The second option is to go to AIMIM, which has been looking for suitable candidates to expand its base beyond the Old City, besides Rajendranagar Assembly segment. For others, BJP too is a serious option, as it is scouting for potential new faces to field against TRS, Congress and AIMIM in all the 109 Assembly segments. 

Besides, its efforts to make inroads into the Old City and other Assembly segments where the minorities have a decisive say in the electoral outcomes. The minority leaders have decided to call for a meeting of their brethren within the party to discuss the issue and take a final decision soon, the sources added. 

Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders G Kishan Reddy and State president Dr K Laxman have confirmed that several leaders from the Congress, besides TRS and TDP, are keeping in touch with the party and they will be joining at an appropriate time.