True to it's word, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) has retracted it's support to the Congress-led UPA Govt. at the Centre, and the Congress govt. in Andhra Pradesh.
Majlis president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddun Owaisi annouced this at a press conference on Monday, and said that he has already faxed a letter to the President regarding the same and would be sending a similar letter to the AP governor presently.
Proclaiming that they are ready for any eventualities, Mr. Owaisi said that their first priority would be to "expose this government's misdeeds and mis-governance", adding that there was no turning back now.
MIM's grievance with Congress stems from the arrest of seven of its legislators in connection with the
Bhagyalaxmi temple issue.
Tearing Kiran Kumar and his govt. down for being "indecisive" and "pandering to sangh parivar activists", Owaisi declared that he would have nothing to do with a non-secular and anti-minority government.
When inquired about who the party would court next, Owaisi replied in a vague manner saying "Jagan Reddy is my friend. Kiran Reddy was my friend", adding “let the elections be announced and then we will take a call. Even Kejriwal’s party could also be there."
Meanwhile Pradesh Congress Committee chief Botsa Satyanarayana has been doing his best to undo the "damage", claiming that it is a sensitive issue, and therefore required sensitive handling, adding that they were discussing the issue, and talks were on with MIM leaders to convince them not to take such a drastic step. The Congress party in the state could soon loose four of its members to YSRCP, and can ill afford to let go of the seven MIM seats that give it a precarious majority.
When asked about accusations of Congress being baised towards a community to secure its own position, Botsa claimed that they were not pandering to any community, and that decisions had to be taken to benefit all, and not just a minority or a majority.