HYDERABAD: Though TRS working president, KT Rama Rao claimed on Thursday that his party would double its tally by winning 10 wards in the Old City, AIMIM appears to have no such plans to expand its base as its candidates have filed only 66 nominations. In 2016, AIMIM won 44 out of 60 seats it contested.
Unlike other parties, AIMIM did not release the list of candidates on Thursday. Meanwhile, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi launched the election campaign from Erragadda ward in Jubilee Hills. The AIMIM chief conducted a door-to-door campaign in the Sultan Nagar area, Erragadda. In 2016, apart from their stronghold in Old City, the AIMIM had won only two wards — Erragadda and Shaikpet — in Jubilee Hills assembly segment, two — Suleman Nagar, Shastripuram — in Rajendra Nagar segment and one —Bholakpur — in Musheerabad.
Interestingly, TRS came second in 38 of the 50-odd wards in the Old City. Even in Akberbagh ward, where Majlis Bachao Tahreek’s (MBT) Amjed Ullah Khan fought the election, TRS was second, pushing MBT to the third spot.
For years, MBT has been considered as the main rival of the AIMIM. Parveena Sultana (Ghansi Bazar ward), wife of Mohd Ghouse, Sohail Quadri (Pathergatti) and Muzafar Khan (Shalibanda) are some AIMIM candidates, who filed their nominations on Friday.