Hyderabad, An Owaisi Bastion Or BJP's Hope?

Hyderabad is the hottest seat of Telangana in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Hyderabad has been a bastion of AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen), and Owaisi since 1984. This year too, AIMIM was at the front to spear head the intense fight. It was majorly a battle between AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Madhavi Latha, who is popularly known to be a Sanatan Dharma proponent.

Hyderabad has Muslims as its predominant voters, who are loyal to Owaisi. Though Latha, the first woman candidate of BJP from the constituency, has notably tried to challenge Owaisi’s dominance in the region by focusing on issues like the alleged Muslim radicalisation, and women’s rights, Owaisi still held a comfortable base, if not strong.

Formed in 1952, the constituency went under delimitation for six times, the latest process to take place in 2009. Though a Congress bastion in the beginning, the constituency paved path for AIMIM in 1984, when Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, won the seat. He held the seat for six consecutive terms until his retirement in 2004. During the general election of the same year, Asaduddin Owaisi, son of Sulthan Salahuddin Owaisi was elected. For the past four consecutive terms, Hyderabad has been under the clasp of Asaduddin Owaisi.

During the 2019 Lok Sabha election of Hyderabad, Owaisi won the seat by securing 58.94 votes. With a voter turnout of 44.84 percent, Asaduddin Owaisi had garnered 26.43 percent of votes.

While Owaisi is a seasoned politician and a household name in Telangana politics, Latha is a new face. It has been a neck and neck fierce battle between Owaisi and Latha.

Notably, Exit polls from several agencies has earlier suggested that the NDA alliance could possibly win around 10 seats, the Congress and BRS can bag 4-6 seats and AIMIM could only win 0-1 seat.