Congress leader hints at poll alliance with Owaisi's party in Telangana

Telanagana Congress general secretary Mohammed Feroz Khan has hinted at an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. He, however, said that though no official direction came from the party high command.

In Short

• Congress leader Mohammed Feroz Khan says 'everything is fair in love and war'
• Says he's ready to befriend Owaisi if the party high command directs
• BJP calls remarks strategy to fool people

Congress leader Mohammed Feroz Khan has hinted at an alliance between the grand old party and Assaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Telangana ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to India Today TV's sister channel Aaj Tak, Khan alleged that Congress's only agenda is to wipe out the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party from the southern state, and if for that he has to "befriend" Owaisi, he will do it.

"It's my personal statement, considering whatever is happening around us, that we should join hands with the AIMIM to achieve our mission of eliminating the BRS," Feroz Khan said, adding that "everything is fair in love and war".

He, however, immediately clarified that no official direction on an alliance with the AIMIM had come from the Congress high command.

"If orders come from the high command to extend support to the AIMIM, I will oblige as a disciplined worker....I will keep fighting until free and fair elections are held...I am a dedicated worker and a fighter, and committed to the Congress party. If the party asks to keep enmity aside, then I will do that. I will work to strengthen Congress and (Chief Minister) Revanth Reddy in Telangana. This is what I stand for," Telangana Congress general secretary told Aaj Tak.

When asked about allegations levelled by the Opposition's INDIA bloc that AIMIM is the "B team of the BJP", Feroz Khan said that whether Owaisi learnt a lesson by being in partnership with a "fanatic team" or not should be decided by the Congress high command.

"I am just a worker. Whether AIMIM has learnt their lesson and wants to join a secular party (referring to Congress) is up to the high command to decide," he added.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Owaisi have engaged in public bonhomie on several occasions recently. However, neither Congress nor the AIMIM have formally announced their alliance in the Lok Sabha elections. At an Iftar party in Hyderabad last month alongside Reddy, Owaisi said that "they will have to fight together against those who spread hatred".

Notably, Feroz Khan was Congress's candidate from Hyderabad constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections against Asaduddin Owaisi. The AIMIM supremo had defeated Feroz Khan.

BJP, BRS LEADERS HIT OUT

Reacting to Feroz Khan's statement, BJP's in-charge of Hyderabad parliamentary constituency, Raja Singh told Aaj Tak that it's no novelty that Congress and AIMIM may come together in the upcoming elections.

"I have previously said as well that be it BRS or Congress or Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM, they are all the same. They have always tried to fool the public," Singh said.

He said the reality that was hidden behind closed doors so long has now come out in the open. Raja Singh added that despite Congress's consistent claim that the AIMIM is the B team of the BJP, the reality now shows otherwise.

Meanwhile, BRS Hyderabad candidate Gaddam Srinivas Yadav told Aaj Tak that Feroz Khan's statement only made it easier for him to get votes.

"It is no novelty that Congress and the AIMIM are together. In fact, I would say the BJP also supports the AIMIM. This means that my fight is against the AIMIM; I have got clarity now," Yadav added.

Published By:
sharangee
Published On:
Apr 11, 2024