MIM seen as favourite in triangular tussle

Hyderabad: A keen triangular contest is very much likely in Malakpet Assembly constituency, which has become a stronghold for the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) for the last one decade, thanks to the one-sided voting pattern of Muslim minorities. Malakpet constituency has over 2.7 lakh voters and the voter turnout in the constituency is about 48 per cent. The constituency is famous for the Hyderabad Race Club, Monsieur Raymond’s Tomb and Mahaboob Mansion Market.

The incumbent two-time MLA, Ahmed Bin Abdullah Balala, is trying is luck for the third. Political observers opine that Balala has consolidated his place in the constituency by virtue of his accessibility to the people and in promptly attending to their problems. The constituency was traditionally a BJP seat. However, in the Congress wave of 2004, the seat was wrested by Malreddy Rangareddy of Congress and later by MIM, which had an understanding with the Congress and later with the TRS.

During the 2014 elections Balala was the winner in the constituency with a margin of 23,263 votes against his nearest rival B Venkat Reddy of BJP. While Balala got 58,976 votes, Venkat Reddy secured 35,713 votes. The TRS was at third place with 11,378 votes. During 2009, Balala defeated his nearest rival Muzzaffar Ali of Telugu Desam with a margin of 8,371 votes. Balala got 30,839 votes and Ali got 22,468 votes. This time, while the MIM and TRS have has announced the candidates the other parties are yet to announce. The Mahakutami and BJP are yet to announce candidate. 

The TDP is pitching for a ticket given the fact that their candidate lost the previous election with a slender margin. There are three names doing rounds in BJP for ticket, which include Subhash Chanderji, Yadagiri Reddy, Surender Reddy and Ale Jitender. Subhash Chanderji is deputy mayor and Jitender is son of Ale Narender. The leader who has the backing of Sangh is likely to get ticket from the constituency, said locals. The constituency throws a three-cornered contest this time. At one end there is Majlis supported by TRS, there is Mahakutami candidate on the other hand, and the third contender is from BJP.