MIM likely to retain Old City bastions despite low voter turnout

Dip in voter turnout unlikely to affect party’s chances

Low voter turnout notwithstanding, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) appears to be in a position to retain its seats.

Various segments in the MIM’s bastion of the Old City on polling day showed a drop in polling percentage. According to latest figures released by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, the poll percentage as compared to 2014 went down by as much as 6%.

Almost certain victory

Voters from segments, which are part of Old City, claimed that the drop is unlikely to change the party’s fortunes and attributed the low turnout at polling booths to a host of reasons.

“The MIM is strong in Old City. Segments such as Charminar, Bahadurpura, Chandrayangutta and Yakutpura are its stronghold. They have not lost from here in recent times. Secondly, in the recent past, candidates against MIM were not very strong. In 2014, the MBT was considered the main opposition to MIM but came third in Yakutpura,” said M.A. Saleem, a resident of Noorkhan Bazaar.

Touching upon poor polling percentages, keen observers of issues and politics in Old City such as activist S.Q. Masood said, “First of all, there was confusion because several people were deleted from the voter lists. Others could not find their polling booths because they did not get voter slips. And finally, it is possible that there was low turnout because the polling was on a Friday.”

While the party is likely to retain its bastions, observers said the Malakpet segment saw a triangular fight between the MIM, Bharatiya Janata Party and the mahakutami.

While the MIM has won since the segment’s delimitation in 2009, the current polls saw its opposition – TDP candidate Muzaffar Ali Khan, who lost against MIM’s Ahmed bin Abdullah Balala in 2009, and BJP’s Ale Jeetendra – upping the campaign ante.

“The contest in Malakpet will be close. All three parties have done whatever they can to win. They sought to woo people from all communities and swore by the work they have either done or have promised to do. Many are eagerly waiting for the result to be announced,” said a Saidabad resident.