Wakf Board Chairman: Race Begins

Intense behind-the-scene activity is taking place at the Muslim Wakf Board over the elections of the next Chairman.

This intense activity comes just a day after a new Chief Executive Officer was named for the Wakf Board, estimated to be entrusted with properties of Muslims worth between 7 to 8 lakh crore rupees.

The Wakf Board had been languishing without an administrative head since the past 3 months, when the government, on Tuesday, notified the appointment of Mohammed Habeebuddin Ahmed as the CEO.

Habeebuddin Ahmed immediately took charge, clearing the way for the election of the next Wakf Board chairman.

Incidentally, the Wakf Board was without a chairman after Ilyas Sait resigned 7 months ago, after ruling party legislators and workers misbehaved with him. His resignation was immediately accepted by Chief Minister K Rosaiah.

According to sources, there is intense competition between former Lok Sabha member from Hindupur Colonel Mohamed Nizamuddin and the Board member Syed Shah Ghulam Afzal Khusro Biyabani to become the next Chairman.

Khusro Biyabani is believed to have the support of a majority of Ministers, Legislators and senior Congress leaders from Telangana, since he hails from Warangal.

On the other hand, Colonel Nizamuddin, who hails from Rayalaseema, does not have the support of the people from his region. He not only has to deal with the Telangana lobby on his own, but is also believed to be opposed by Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal.

Rajagopal's opposition is believed to have already cost Colonel Nizamuddin the renomination for the Hindupur LS seat.

Their adversity goes back to the days when a Parliamentary Standing Committee, with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, visited the state on a fact finding mission. Colonel Nizamuddin is believed to have prevailed on the Panel to also inspect Rajagopal's Lanco Group business dealings.

This incident had led Rajagopal to develop and nurse a grudge against the former Hindupur MP.

In another setback to Colonel Nizamuddin, a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the state High Court on Tuesday by one Fareeduddin from Guntur and Farees from Hyderabad, seeking removal of Colonel Nizamuddin and former Guntur MLA Shaik Subhani from the Board membership, since they were nominated as members during their Legislature period. The PIL argues that since the 2 are no longer Legislators, they should be removed from the Board membership.

On the other hand, Colonel Nizamuddin is believed to have the tacit support of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, which has 4 members on the Board.

Only 10 of the 11 members of the Board have the right to vote during the election for the chairman, since 1 member is nominated by the government. Colonel Nizamuddin is now relying on these 4 MIM votes besides his own, and is reported to be earnestly lobbying for 1 more vote, so that his dream of becoming the chairman of the Wakf Board is realized.

Courtesy: INN