The non-political groups in Telangana have taken a stand that TRS candidate Ibrahim should be supported in the Mahabubnagar by-poll as he belonged to the minority community.
In an open letter, the separate state proponents, who include member of Forum for Telngana including Rama Melkote, former professor of OU, Telangana Writers Forum and Mulki Study Centre, demanded the political JAC headed by Prof Kodandaram to declare their support to TRS candidate.
The fight between TRS and BJP in Mahabubnagar by-poll has highlighted the contradictions and political self-interest of both hte parties, which claim to stand by the separate state slogan.
Smarting under the humiliation meted out by TRS in not leaving the seat to it, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to win the seat. The letter claims that the BJP leaders were raising communal issues in the constituency, which might lead to a split in pro-Telangana forces.
Stating that they are disturbed by the ‘neutral’ stand taken by the JAC on Mahabubnagar, the intellectuals and writers known for their sympathies for TRS, said that the BJP’s campaign would only make minorities uncomfortable over the separate state issue. In this backdrop, the JAC should come out openly and express its support to the TRS minority candidate, the letter stated.
