Having severed its ties with the Congress in November 2012, the MIM has been sailing alone in the state's politics.
The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen will most likely enter into an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
Having severed its ties with the Congress party in November 2012, the MIM has been sailing alone in the state's politics. Its former ally, the Telugu Desam Party, inched towards the Bharatiya Janata Party, and therefore, the possibilities of the MIM resuming ties with Nara Chandrababu Naidu faded. Meanwhile, the YSR Congress Party's opposition to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh weakened its position in Telangana, and hence, the MIM did not make any attempts to forge an alliance with Jaganmohan Reddy.
MIM openly opposed the formation of Telangana, and even said it proposes a Rayala-Telangana if division is inevitable. This stand hit the party's plans to expand in districts of Telangana other than Hyderabad.
However, the MIM appears to have reversed its stand on Telangana after the State Reorganisation Bill was tabled in the Legislative Assembly. MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi not only supported the Bill, but spoke in a tone that matched that of pro-Telangana parties, especially the TRS.
The ensuing elections to Rajya Sabha seats have provided the MIM an opportunity to find a new ally in the TRS. According to sources, the top leaders of both the parties are in constant touch to forge an alliance, not only for the Rajya Sabha elections, but also for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls scheduled to be held this year.
On Monday, TRS leaders, including the party's Rajya Sabha candidate K Keshava Rao, T Harish Rao and K Tarakarama Rao, called on MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi at his latter's chambers in the Assembly. The TRS leaders have reportedly sought the MIM's support to ensure the victory of Keshava Rao in exchange for an alliance in next Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
The leaders of both the parties remained tight-lipped on what transpired during the meeting held on Monday. However, they gave clear indications that neither of the parties is against an alliance in the near future. (INN)