Hyderabad, March 21: In a surprise to many including workers of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), party legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi on Wednesday filed his nomination papers for Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat. Akbaruddin Owaisi's elder brother and sitting MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday filed the nomination for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat. Akbaruddin Owaisi is an MLA from Chandrayangutta assembly constituency.

Parties often field a supporting candidate apart from their official candidate in case the nomination of the main candidate is rejected by the Election Commission. If it happens, the supporting candidate becomes the official candidate. While this practice is common among political parties, the AIMIM usually avoids it. Therefore, Akbaruddin Owaisi's nomination took everyone by surprise. AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi Has Assets Worth Rs 13 Crore.

While AIMIM workers were not informed about the move, a senior party functionary ruled out any rift between Owaisi brothers and said Akbaruddin filed his papers as a back-up candidate in the unlikely event that Asaduddin Owaisi’s candidature is rejected on technical grounds. The sitting MP is seeking re-election from Hyderabad for a fourth consecutive term.

"In the 90s, this was a common practice across the party lines. It is just that this time, the party does not want to take chances as scrutiny has become stringent. Therefore, Akbar sahab has filed the nomination as a back-up. Even in the recent Assembly elections, back-up candidates filed their nomination papers in seven constituencies. So this is nothing new," the AIMIM leader told The Hindu.

Akbaruddin Owaisi’s nomination would be withdrawn once Asaduddin’s nomination papers pass the scrutiny, sources were quoted as saying. The Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat has been an AIMIM stronghold for over three decades.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 21, 2019 10:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).