Men in the AIMIM party have been able to move from the GHMC to the state assembly, while women in the party have only been able to become GHMC corporators. This has raised questions about generational changes within the party’s electoral strongholds.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owasi recently questioned why OBC and Muslim women, who have even less representation in Parliament, are not given any quota. Women in the old city are now asking why AIMIM does not field women candidates.
According to election commission data, there is only a small difference in the number of male and female voters in Majlis bastions such as Chandrayangutta, Bahadurpura, Karwan, Charminar, Yakutpura, Malakpet, and Nampally. However, AIMIM has only encouraged women to become corporators and nothing more.
Other parties like Congress, BJP, and BRS, despite failing to implement 33 percent reservation for women, have made some efforts to field women candidates. AIMIM, on the other hand, has failed to reflect the generational change and aspirations of its voters.
Younger Muslim voters feel that AIMIM does not allow women to grow beyond the level of corporators, while male corporators are able to become Deputy Mayors, MLAs, and MLCs. Since there is no alternative party to challenge AIMIM in the state, there is no one to question their lack of support for women.
However, it remains unclear if Muslim women are ready to contest elections. Some women point out that even though the AIMIM chief dreams of a hijab-wearing Muslim woman becoming the Prime Minister someday, his own party does not encourage women.
