The political climate in the nation is heated. With just days remaining until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, all political parties are eager to capture the central power. Amidst this, there is one Lok Sabha seat that has garnered much attention. For decades, it has been beyond the reach of the largest party as well as the oldest national party. This seat is Hyderabad, where for over ten times the same party's candidate has emerged victorious, leaving the opposing party candidates unable to withstand the contest. Imagining a victory for any other candidate on this seat seems far-fetched. From the era of Indira Gandhi to the Modi wave, none have made a significant impact here. For the BJP and Congress, altering Hyderabad’s 40-year historical political landscape in this election is anything but easy.
Formerly the capital of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad became the capital of Telangana after the state's formation in 2014. Discussing voter demographics, approximately 60 percent are Muslims and about 40 percent Hindus. Since 1984, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has continuously won this seat. It was during a time when Indira Gandhi’s influence reigned over the country, but her charm failed to sway Hyderabad, resulting in Congress facing defeat here. Ever since, Hyderabad has been an invincible fortress for the Owaisi family.
This fortress has been under the control of the Owaisi family for the last four decades. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's father, the late Salahuddin Owaisi, won six consecutive elections from 1984 to 1999. Since then, Asaduddin Owaisi has been waving the party’s flag here since 2004, marking four victories to date. In total, the Owaisi family has maintained uninterrupted authority over this seat for ten terms.
Considering the last two elections, even during the Modi wave that swept even the weakest of candidates to victory, BJP candidates were thoroughly defeated in Hyderabad. In the 2014 and 2019 elections, Owaisi won by more than two lakh votes, increasingly widening the margin of victory with each election. No party has been able to challenge the Owaisis and their party since 1984. Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and TDP head Chandrababu Naidu once contested and faced defeat on this seat, and even former Vice-President of India Venkaiah Naidu who fought the 1996 elections as a BJP candidate couldn’t win. These outcomes underscore the seat's significance for all parties.
Why is no other candidate making an impact on this seat?
The question arises as to why others consistently fail to secure this seat? The answer lies in the predominant influence of Muslim votes and the political trajectory the Owaisi family has charted for themselves, focusing on Muslim politics. The unabashedly controversial statements made by Asaduddin Owaisi’s younger brother Akbaruddin Owaisi and other affiliates at their rallies make it clear that their party always positions itself as the champion of Muslims' issues. Other parties have neither made significant efforts in this region nor strategically chosen their candidates. BJP has proclaimed its ground from time to time but to no avail. Meanwhile, Congress and the state's regional party BRS haven’t shown significant posturing. This could be why the majority of voters in Hyderabad have yet to fully trust another party or its candidates. Had another strong Muslim candidate entered the fray who could also attract a segment of Hindu voters, then perhaps the political equation could have changed, breaching Owaisi’s impregnable fort.
Heading into this Lok Sabha election, only BJP seems to be making strenuous efforts. The party has fielded the fiery Madhavi Lata as a formidable candidate. First-time contestant Lata has always had a strong grassroots presence. Madhavi is contesting fervently and has claimed that she will defeat Owaisi by a margin of over one and a half lakh votes. Wherever she campaigns, she's making headlines. Although challenging, the path for the BJP candidate is not easy – the odds of defeating Owaisi are slim, primarily due to the one-sided Muslim votes that considerably influence the entirety of this seat's equation.
