Minority institutions respond positively to Congress appeal for Graduate MLC polls
Hyderabad: Representatives of leading minority educational institutions in Telangana responded positively to an appeal by Mohammed Ali Shabbir, Advisor to the Telangana Government and a senior Congress leader. He asked them to support party candidates in the forthcoming Graduate MLC elections. At a meeting at his Jubilee Hills residence on Wednesday evening, they assured him they would consider extending support and encouraging their alumni to vote for Congress candidates.
AICC Secretary Sachin Sawant, TPCC Senior Vice-President Zafar Javeed and the heads of nearly 15 minority institutions attended the meeting. Shabbir Ali and Sawant sought support for the Congress candidates in both constituencies. Participants discussed strategies to secure support for Sama Rammohan Reddy of the Mahabubnagar-Ranga Reddy-Hyderabad Graduates’ Constituency and Ramreddy Sarvotham Reddy of Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda.
Zafar Javeed of M.J. College (Sultan-ul-Uloom), Mujahid Alam Khan of Anwar-ul-Uloom College and Syed Basha Mohiuddin of Lords Engineering College were among those present. Mohammed Qayyum of Presidency College, Mohd Ghouse of Azad College of Engineering, Mohammed Habeeb of MRM College and Mohammed Anwar, Director of M.S. Junior College, also attended. Representatives of other minority institutions and candidate Sama Rammohan Reddy were also present.
Shabbir Ali urged the managements to reach out to thousands of graduates associated with their institutions and appeal for their support. He said the extensive alumni networks of minority colleges could play a significant role in strengthening the Congress candidates’ prospects in both constituencies.
Recalling the contribution of previous Congress governments, particularly the one headed by former Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Shabbir Ali said hundreds of minority educational institutions came up with government encouragement and approvals. These included medical, engineering and other professional colleges. He said these policies transformed Hyderabad into a major centre of minority education and opened professional courses to students from economically disadvantaged families. Fee reimbursement, scholarships and other assistance schemes further enabled thousands of students to pursue higher education without placing an excessive financial burden on their families.
Shabbir Ali particularly highlighted the four per cent reservation for socially and educationally backward Muslims, introduced during the Congress regime. He claimed that nearly 22 lakh Muslims across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh benefited from the policy through educational admissions and employment opportunities. He said Hyderabad and neighbouring districts were among the biggest beneficiaries, with thousands of minority students becoming doctors, engineers, teachers and other professionals. He maintained that Congress governments empowered minorities through concrete educational and economic measures rather than political assurances alone.
Referring to the present government, Shabbir Ali said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who also holds the Education portfolio, is committed to strengthening minority education, improving infrastructure and addressing institutional challenges. He expressed confidence that the government would carry forward the educational legacy of Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy while expanding opportunities for disadvantaged students.
Shabbir Ali urged the managements to consider the Congress party’s contribution to their institutions and communities while extending electoral support. He said the forthcoming MLC elections offered an opportunity to acknowledge policies that enabled generations of minority students to secure professional qualifications and better livelihoods.
Sawant links Graduate MLC polls to Rahul Gandhi’s campaign
Turning to national politics, Sawant said the Graduate MLC elections have assumed greater importance amid Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and attempts to undermine voting rights. He accused the BJP and RSS of attempting to manipulate elections through what the Congress describes as “vote chori”. He said educated voters have a special responsibility to defend constitutional values, democratic institutions and the integrity of elections.
Praising Rahul Gandhi’s campaign, Sawant said the Congress leader is fighting to protect the voting rights of every Indian. He named minorities, Dalits, backward classes and other vulnerable sections in particular. He argued that Gandhi’s efforts brought electoral accountability to the centre of national political debate and strengthened the defence of minority rights.
Sawant maintained that victories for Congress candidates in both graduates’ constituencies would send a powerful political message from Telangana to the rest of the country. Such an outcome, he said, would strengthen Gandhi’s campaign and show that educated voters reject attempts to weaken democratic institutions. Referring to recent graduates’ and teachers’ constituency elections in northern states, he claimed the BJP suffered setbacks in some contests. He said these results reflected dissatisfaction among educated voters and showed that the party could be challenged through democratic mobilisation.
He appealed to the institutional heads to reach out to their alumni personally, explain the political significance of the elections and encourage them to vote for Congress candidates. He said the support of educated professionals would be crucial in securing victories in both constituencies.
During the interaction, representatives of minority educational institutions raised administrative and other difficulties affecting their colleges. They sought the State Government’s intervention. Sawant and Shabbir Ali assured them that they would personally take up the concerns with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the departments concerned and seek early resolution. They reiterated that the Congress government recognises the contribution of minority institutions and remains committed to supporting their development.
The representatives appreciated Shabbir Ali’s initiative and responded positively to his appeal. They assured him they would consider extending electoral cooperation and encouraging their alumni to support Congress candidates.
Candidate Sama Rammohan Reddy said he would act as a bridge between educational institutions and the State Government to address their concerns and facilitate the resolution of pending issues. He urged the managements not only to encourage their alumni to register as voters but also to use their influence to mobilise support for Congress candidates. He said this would help ensure their victory in the forthcoming Graduate MLC elections.