Rumors of a secret pact between BRS and BJP have been spreading, leading many to believe that the Muslim community is seen as just a vote bank. As a result, a significant portion of the population is starting to lean towards the Congress party.
This belief has been strengthened by the way the Centre handled the Delhi Liquor case involving MLC K Kavitha and the replacement of Union Minister G Kishan Reddy as State BJP chief. Despite BRS denying any connection to BJP, there is still suspicion within the community that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao may join NDA in the future.
The TRS has supported most Bills in Parliament, which adds to the uncertainty. The Telangana Muslim Organisations JAC brought in the TS Muslim Declaration-2023 a few months ago, expressing concerns about the future course of BRS.
With a sizable Muslim population and a 13% vote share, Muslims play a significant role in election outcomes in around 40 constituencies throughout the State. It is argued that past governments have neglected this population and used them solely for their votes.
During KCR’s nine-year tenure as CM, he promised a 12% reservation for Muslims and got the Bill passed in the Assembly. However, it was never approved by the Centre, leading to disappointment among the Muslim community. Additionally, job opportunities for unemployed Muslims have been limited over the past nine years.
Despite being part of the Telangana movement, the Muslim community has not seen significant improvements in their political representation or budget allocations over the past decade. This has led to a shift in voting preferences.
According to the Telangana Muslim Organisations JAC, around 70-80% of Muslims have previously voted for BRS. However, this is expected to change in the upcoming elections as Muslims are now more aware and will vote for the party that implements their 22 demands. In the absence of a better alternative, the community is likely to opt for the Congress party.
