MIM denies plans to field Azharuddin as candidate

By J.S.Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD, AUG. 19. The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) has virtually ruled out fielding the former captain of the Indian cricket team, Mohammad Azharuddin, as its Mayoral candidate in the forthcoming election to the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad. The speculation about the cricketer's choice for the coveted post were set at rest by the party president and Hyderabad MP, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, himself.

"There is no such plan. We never thought of Mr. Azharuddin on those lines," Mr. Owaisi told The Hindu.

With the preparations for conduct of civic body polls getting under way, there was intense speculation about Mr. Azharuddin being the Majlis choice for the Mayoral post. The continued silence of the Majlis leadership on the issue only added to the confusion with a section of party workers supporting the cricketer's candidature and another denouncing it outright.

Mr. Owaisi scotched the rumours and said it is wrong to link the Hyderabad cricketer with the Majlis. "Azharuddin's participation in our Iftar party last year doesn't mean that he has joined the Majlis. In fact we have not selected any candidate for the Mayoral post as yet. It is too early", Mr. Owaisi remarked.

He said the Majlis would go it alone in the MCH elections as it is confident of emerging as the single largest party. It will also wrest the Mayor's post. The possible electoral alliance between the TDP and BJP will have no effect on the Majlis. The recently held local body polls showed how effective the TDP-BJP tie-up was. The Majlis leader welcomed the formation of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and said it would pose no threat to the Majlis. He also ruled out alliance with the Congress as his party is in a better position to win on its own.

The Majlis has already set the ball rolling for MCH polls. It has activised its primary branches at the polling booth level. Recently it convened a meeting of all the 700 office bearers of the primary branches and drove home the message that the Majlis should win. They were asked to concentrate on solving the civic problems of the people.

"In 1986 we won 38 seats. But this time we are confident of winning 50 seats", asserted Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi, the Majlis legislator.

The party has proposed to contest all the 100 municipal divisions. The Majlis is of the view that the Telugu Desam Government's improper handling of the flood situation in the city last year and its poor showing in the local body elections will have a bearing on the MCH polls. Rain is a blessing of God but it has become a curse because of the ineffective storm water drainage system. The Government is concerned only with cosmetic changes and not really bothered about attending to the civic problems of the people. "And it is here we will score", Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi said.

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