Congress did well in Maharashtra, Haryana polls: Shabbir

Hyderabad: Former minister and ex-Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Friday said that the Congress party has made an impressive comeback in the just-concluded Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana States. Similarly, the Congress party has performed well in the by-election for Assembly seats in 17 States, he said.

Addressing a press conference, Shabbir said that the Congress not only won more number of seats this time, but its vote share too has increased significantly compared to 2014 elections. He stated that the BJP has failed to lure voters in the name of Article 370 or other emotional issues.

Commenting on Huzurnagar by-election results, Shabbir Ali said that the TRS won the seat by misusing official machinery and through huge distribution of cash and liquor. "TRS victory in Huzurnagar is not genuine and everyone knows about it.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has expressed over-excitement on a tampered verdict and fabricated result," he said, adding that the Chief Minister addressed a press conference for over an hour to show as if his party got some certificate for its achievement. Shabbir Ali 'congratulated' Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on his party winning two seats in Maharashtra and one seat in Bihar.

Further, he congratulated Owaisi for helping BJP-Shiv Sena retain power in Maharashtra. Furnishing statistics, he said BJP-Shiv Sena alliance would not have got majority in Maharashtra without MIM's help.

He said MIM had contested on 44 Seats in Maharashtra and won from Dhule and Malegaon Central. It also stood runner-up in 4 other seats. However, he said MIM helped BJP-Shiv Sena win 21 seats by dividing secular votes.