Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 21 : Criticising the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for not working on development in any ward of Jubilee Hills when it was in power, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday asserted that "voting should be done only on the basis of development".
Avoiding the question of whether he'll support Congress leader Revanth Reddy, the AIMIM chief said that he is the chief minister of the state, and neither this by-election would form the government nor will it change the government.
"By-elections are going to take place in Jubilee Hills. Revanth Reddy is the Chief Minister of the state. Neither this by-election will form the government nor will it change the government. Secondly, the people of Jubilee Hills gave 10 years to the former MLA from BRS, but he did not make use of it. No development took place in any ward of Jubilee Hills. Thirdly, voting should take place there only on development," Owaisi told reporters.
The AIMIM chief also announced that the party will not field a candidate in the by-election. He appealed to the people of Jubilee Hills to support Congress nominee Naveen Yadav.
"AIMIM is not fielding a candidate from Jubilee Hills. We appeal to the people of Jubilee Hills to vote for a young leader, Naveen Yadav (Congress candidate), so that he can bring development to Jubilee Hills. This is the decision of the party," he informed.
Owaisi further commented on the stability of the current government, noting, "The current government will stay at least 2.5-3 years in power, and this by-election is not going to make any changes. When the assembly election takes place in 2028, you will see what AIMIM will do in Jubilee Hills."
Meanwhile, on October 19, AIMIM chief said that the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978, has been "misused" by every elected and unelected government, which has led to "untold suffering and human rights violations".
"Sab kuch luta ke hosh mein aaye to kya kiya. Din mein agar chiragh jalaye to kya kiya," Owaisi posted on X. He said that the previous Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, including Omar Abdullah, could have repealed the PSA and prevented human rights violations.