CONGRESS NOT BANKING ON MUSLIMS, BUT OBCS IN TELANGANA

Congress leaders believe the party could form a majority in the Assembly without substantial Muslim support.

- BADAR BASHIR

The Congress in Telangana is banking on . Other Backward Classes (OBCs) that constitute over 55% of the state's population, according to party leaders. Moreover, party leaders believe that the Congress could get a majority in the 119-member Assembly without any substantial support from the Muslim community.

Muslim votes that constitute around 14% in the state can influence around 30 seats. Political observers believe that the majority of Muslims may stick with KCR as his government has taken up several welfare schemes for the community, including the construction of Shadi Khanas and introduction of Shadi Mubarak (payment of Rs 1 lakh to poor Muslim families towards marriage expenses) in the first term of his rule.