A Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) bastion for almost five decades , the Yakutpura Assembly segment is witnessing frenetic political campaigning. But will the party continue to keep its stranglehold over the constituency? In the fray are 21 candidates, the frontrunners being the MIM’s Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri and party splinter group and arch-rival Majlis Bachao Takreek’s Majeed Ullah Khan.
First win
It was in 1967 that MIM first scored a victory after its candidate Khaja Nizamuddin won from the constituency. Later, in 1972, party patriarch and former MP Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi chose to contest from Yakutpura instead of Charminar, and won. Later, MIM leader Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, was elected five times: in 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. Mr. Khan will now contest the Charminar seat and former Charminar legislator Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri will fight it out in Yakutpura.
Official figures show that while polling percentage has hovered over the 50% mark, Yakutpura, traditionally considered a Muslim-majority area, has indeed sprung a few surprises. The constituency is considered as a duelling ground between the MIM and MBT. In 2009, when Mr. Khan won, MBT candidate Hamza Bin Omer Jabri was his closest rival. But in 2014, contrary to popular perception, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Ch Roop Raj polled 32,420 votes and supplanted MBT and its candidate Majeed Ullah Khan who secured 28,793 votes, of the second position. Political rivalries aside, several Yakutpura residents say that efforts of public representatives notwithstanding, the constituency suffers from two major issues: poor access to government educational institutions, and flooding of low-lying areas. “The constituency is in need of a govt. junior and degree college. The closest is the Government Junior College in Chanchalguda, but this is in Malakpet constituency. The others are either in Falaknuma or Charminar areas. The poor public transport as compared to other areas makes it difficult for students to travel to these colleges,” says M A Nayeem, a trader and resident of of the area.
Cluster of slums
Others pointed out that a cluster of slums exist in the constituency. Many of these, they say, are settlements in low-lying colonies. These include notified slums such as Aman Nagar-A, Aman Nagar-B, Bhavani Nagar, Ganga Bowli and Khan Nagar, among other areas in the Talabkatta locality. “Water floods homes during monsoons in these areas. The other issue is with the nalas. While steps have been taken for widening, a lot more needs to be done,” said Mohammed Saleemuddin, a student.
