Hyderabad Lok Sabha Election 2024: BJP's Madhavi Latha Challenges Asaduddin Owaisi in His Bastion
It’s Asaduddin Owaisi vs BJP’s Madhavi Latha in Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency. (Image: X)
The Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, situated in Telangana, falls under the General category and encompasses a portion of Hyderabad district. Currently, it includes seven Legislative Assembly segments: Malakpet, Karwan, Goshamahal, Charminar, Chandrayangutta, Yakutpura, and Bahadurpura, all located within Hyderabad district. Voting on the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat will take place on May 13 in the fourth phase of General Elections 2024. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.
2019 Result and 2024 Candidates
The current MP from Hyderabad is Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM. He has been MP from this seat since 2004, preceded by sultan Salahuddin Owaisi (1984-2004) of AIMIM.
The candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Hyderabad are Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Smt. (Dr.) Madhavi Latha (BJP), and Rajesh Kumar Pulipati (INC).
Political Dynamics
One of the most heated high-profile battles in Telangana is currently playing out in the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency where the BJP’s Madhavi Latha has sounded the poll bugle against sitting MP Asaduddin Owaisi who has been serving as its representative for the last two decades.
Madhavi Latha’s Fiery Attack
The BJP has nominated Madhavi Latha, chairperson of Virinchi Hospitals and a well-known activist championing the causes of women, children and the poor in Hyderabad. Latha is a new face in politics but has been making national headlines since entering the political landscape rallying Hindu voters in the constituency and reaching out to members of the Muslim community, especially, women.
While Asaduddin Owaisi has the upper hand, Latha is expected to put up a tough fight, despite demographic factors stacked against her in this 59-61% Muslim constituency. For the BJP, challenging Owaisi on his home turf is not just about merely securing the constituency but it also represents a vital ideological confrontation with broader national implications.
Latha has appeared in interviews with national news platforms. In these interactions, she comes off as a reformer and social justice activist with an extensive knowledge of civic issues in Hyderabad, especially in the dilapidated old city. Moreover, she lays focus on the state of Muslim women, Madrasa education, illegal encroachment of temple land and so on.
She has also attacked the Owaisi family for communal radicalisation and lack of development in the constituency despite their 40 years of rule.
Latha’s campaign is bolstered by the strong backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In a brief speech during a roadshow in the constituency, Shah called on voter to vote out “Razakars” in reference to the AIMIM leadership. Razakars were a brutal paramilitary group that crushed internal dissent and fought for the Nizam’s rule in erstwhile Hyderabad state before its accession to India.
She also has the Goshamahal assembly segment to lean on where another firebrand Hindutva leader T Raja Singh is an MLA. The Ram Mandir factor plays a big role here.
It remains to be seen whether the problem of “bogus votes”, duplication of votes and missing names on voter lists, all raised by Latha in her media interactions, will be addressed in this election. Meanwhile, AIMIM leaders have called for 100% turnout in the Muslim community to counter the recent challenge thrown by Latha.
While demographics may not be on Latha’s side, in a constituency where voter turnouts are in their 40-50 percentile, much depends on polling day. Having stirred the pot of Hindutva politics in a battle that has garnered national attention, Latha is expected to reap heavy dividends. Owing to her fiery campaign, the BJP may expect its vote share to receive a bump from its 2019 performance of 27%.
Asaduddin Owaisi’s Bastion
Asaduddin Owaisi is the sitting MP from the constituency and his party, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), controls six out seven assembly seats — including Malakpet, Karwan, Charminar, Chandrayangutta, Yakutpura and Bahadurpura. All its MLAs are from the Muslim community, which forms the party’s core vote bank.
Owaisi is tremendously popular in the constituency, especially among Muslim constituents, and has earned a name for himself in national politics presenting as an authoritative voice of the Muslims. A Barrister-at-Law from Lincolns Inn, his debating and oratory skills are well-known. The leader has been campaigning from door-to-door seeking a fifth term in the constituency.
While the party’s performance in assembly elections has declined by a few points from 48.6% in 2018 to 42.7% in 2023, its standing in parliamentary elections remains unfazed, especially as Owaisi is seen as an important national representative of the Muslim community. In 2019, the party scored a vote share of 59% in Lok Sabha elections, up from 52.9% in 2014. In fact, Owaisi’s winning margin stood at a staggering 2.82 lakh votes.
Yet, Owaisi faces a host of issues in his home turf as the constituency remains largely under-developed and in poor shape. While for most Muslim voters, his posturing in national politics makes up for shortcomings locally, the issues are being raised vehemently by his BJP rival constituting a formidable challenge to his political supremacy in the area. Ultimately, while a victory is on the cards, it remains to be seen whether Owaisi can replicate the magnitude of his 2019 victory.
Moreover, in a surprising turn of events, Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson for the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), known for his rising prominence in the recent Telangana Assembly elections, opted out of the electoral race. Despite positioning himself as a contender against Owaisi in the preceding weeks, this stance shifted when another MBT member, Majeed Ullah Khan, who also contested the Assembly elections, declared that the party would withdraw its candidacy, citing the broader welfare of the Muslim community as their primary concern. This will ultimately prevent a division in AIMIM’s vote bank, solidifying Owaisi’s chances of winning.
Meanwhile, the Congress has refrained from presenting a significant challenge to Owaisi. The party, in power in Telangana has not made special efforts to counter the AIMIM in its home turf, and maintains the trope that BJP reinforces AIMIM and vice versa.
Key Issues
Bogus votes
One of the major issues in Hyderabad is the case of bogus voting. According to reports there have been allegations that there were 6L bogus voters on the polling list, or at least 30% of the names on the polling list. The issue is not just limited to general elections. In the assembly elections, there were almost 2 lakh bogus voters out of the total 5.
Unemployment
Unemployment in Hyderabad has become a major issue. It has become a major issue especially among the youth. In addition, it has also become a major state issue. Telangana has the highest rate of unemployment in the country. People in Hyderabad are agitated at the lack of opportunities in the region. Recruitments to government services have been repeatedly postponed. And as a result, the educated youth settled in the capital, have returned to their villages raising cattle and engaging in agricultural practices.
Lack of Development
Hyderabad is one of the oldest cities in India and one of the major urban centres in the state of Telangana. However, the city has failed to keep up with its growing population and the expansion. The city’s greatest shortcoming remains to be its inability to be enterprising with respect to urban planning and management. The city is also facing many crises, such as lack of drinking water availability, traffic issues and air pollution, power supply and poor sewage. The city also faces congestion, a debilitating public transport infrastructure and encroachment, which the local administration has failed to address.
Poverty
With rising population and increasing unemployment, poverty has been on the rise in the old city. Urban poverty is measured at 23% in the city. This level is comparatively high as against Delhi (8%), Kolkata (6%) and Chennai (20%). Central welfare schemes have failed to reach the intended recipients with corruption and favouritism being alleged by the people.
Hyderabad metro expansion
The approval for metro expansion came in January this year and funds were released for the work. On-ground reports say that no work has been started. The delays caused has become a nuisance for the people who spend at least 50 mins to an hour stuck in traffic. People want adequate public transport to support the city’s growing needs, however, the delays in metro expansion have become a major nuisance.
Civic Amenities
Roads and public infrastructure systems in Hyderabad have failed to keep pace with the rising population. The rising number of private vehicles has increased the strain on the road infrastructure as people avoid using public transport due to its inadequacies. Work towards expanding the internal road network has been suggested, however, nothing has been done to address the issue. Another issue that the locals have raised is the failure of the government to beautify the Musi River which has become a shadow itself over the last 20 years due to encroachments, garbage dumping and increasing pollution. While plans worth $7 billion have been laid down, people are still waiting to see how, and when everything pans out.
Pollution
Air and water pollution is one of the biggest issues in the city. The Musi River, once the lifeline of the city has become a dumping ground and has shrivelled to just being a narrow stinking canal with only sewage water and industrial effluents flowing into the river. In regard to air pollution the city is breaking records. According to reports, Hyderabad last year recorded one of the highest air pollution numbers in its history. People complained about the acrid smell despite having their windows and doors shut.
Congestion
Congestion in the city has increased manifolds. Slums have propped up across the old city as migrants look to sustain themselves. Illegal encroachment has led to an overall decline in government services. Encroachment is also one of the major issues along with the Musi have added to the pressure on the river. Massive encroachments in all shapes and sizes have come up in an approximately 20 km stretch of the dying river.
Infrastructure Development
Hyderabad Regional Ring Road
The Regional Ring Road (RRR) project proposes a 340-kilometer, 4-lane access-controlled expressway around Hyderabad, encompassing towns like Sangareddy, Toopran, Choutuppal, Amangal, and Shankarpally. Included in the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-1 by the National Highways Authority of India, the RRR aims to improve connectivity between districts in Telangana and link various National Highways, including NH 65, NH 44, NH 163, and NH 765. It will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 17,000 crores.
Nagpur Vijayawada Expressway
The Nagpur-Vijayawada Expressway, currently under construction, is a 405-kilometer access-controlled expressway that will link Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh with Nagpur, Maharashtra. This project is part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I program and is being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) with an estimated budget of Rs. 14,666 crores.
Hyderabad Indore Expressway
A new expressway is being constructed to connect Hyderabad in Telangana with Indore in Madhya Pradesh. This 713-kilometer, 4-lane roadway will be partially access-controlled and is part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I program. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is responsible for the development of this project, which aims to improve connectivity and transportation efficiency between the two major cities. Reports suggest that the project is expected to be constructed by 2025.
Hyderabad Pharma City
Spanning 19,000 acres, the project aims to accommodate major pharmaceutical companies, laboratories, and research institutes within India. The initiative, spearheaded by the state government, seeks to address the increasing demand for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. It is projected to attract substantial investments, potentially exceeding $9.7 billion, and generate employment opportunities for over 500,000 people.
Railway Infrastructure
A new MMTS phase was initiated, connecting various sections within the city. Additionally, the Secunderabad-Mahbubnagar line underwent a doubling and electrification project, enhancing capacity and efficiency. Several sections of this line, including those between Umda Nagar and Shadnagar, and Gollapalli and Alair, were completed, with others nearing completion.
Voter Demographics (2011 Census)
Total Voters (2019): 1957931
Urban Areas: 100%
Rural Areas: 0%
Literacy Rate: 73.34%
Social Composition:
SC: 4.2%
ST: 1.3%
Religious Composition:
Hindu: 41%
Muslim: 59%
Catch Highlights Of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Voting In Karnataka And Gujarat on our website. Get the latest updates, polling trends, result dates and more.