Salahuddin Owaisi (14 February 1931 – 29 September 2008) was an Indian politician belonging to the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party and active in the Telangana region.^[3] He served as the Member of Parliament from Hyderabad for six consecutive terms until his retirement in 2004.

Family and background

Owaisi's father was Abdul Wahed Owaisi was the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen till his death. In 1976, Salahuddin Owaisi took over the presidency of the Majlis after his father's death. Owaisi was the father of three sons. His eldest son, Asaduddin Owaisi, succeeded his father as president of the Majlis and has also retained his father's pocket-borough of Hyderabad since 2004 (when Owaisi retired). Owaisi's second son, Akbaruddin Owaisi, is a member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly from the Chandrayangutta Assembly Constituency.^[4]

Political career

Salahuddin Owaisi stepped into politics in 1958 at a very early age and was active when his father was jailed in the same year.^[5]

Salahuddin Owaisi, also known as "Salar-e-Millat", repeatedly alleged in his speeches that the Indian state had "abandoned" the Muslims to their fate. Therefore, "Muslims should stand on their own feet, rather than look to the State for help", he argued. Owaisi was considered to be the strongest person in Hyderabad politics as his power extended till the borders of United Andhra Pradesh. Muslims in the State rallied behind him and he was considered to be the man who could tilt the Muslim vote bank in Andhra Pradesh to whichever Party he felt like supporting. He was considered to be the most prominent Muslim Leader in Hyderabad.

Election information

To work for the economic development and educational advancement of the minorities; Owaisi established minority Engineering College, Medical College, Pharmacy, Degree College and Colleges for hospital management, MBA, MCA and Nursing, a Co-operative Bank, an Industrial Training Institute, and two Hospitals and Urdu Newspaper Etemaad Daily; evinced keen interest in espousing the cause of promotion and protection of Urdu language, literature and culture.

• Won in 1960 Hyderabad Corporation Election from Mallepally
• Won in 1962 Assembly Election for first time from Patthergati constituency
• Won in 1967 Assembly Election from Yakutpura constituency
• Won in 1972 Assembly Election from Pathergatti constituency
• Won in 1978 Assembly Election with 51.98% of votes as an independent in Charminar constituency
• Won in 1983 Assembly Election with 64.05% of votes as an independent in Charminar constituency
• Won in 1984 Parliament Election with 38.13% of votes as an independent Hyderabad constituency
• Won in 1989 Parliament Election with 45.91% of votes for MIM party in Hyderabad constituency
• Won in 1991 Parliament Election with 46.18% of votes for AIMIM party in Hyderabad constituency
• Won in 1996 Parliament Election with 34.57% of votes for AIMIM party in Hyderabad constituency
• Won in 1998 Parliament Election with 44.65% of votes for AIMIM party in Hyderabad constituency
• Won in 1999 Parliament Election with 41.36% of votes for AIMIM party in Hyderabad

Other roles

• 1985–96—Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs
• 1996–97—Member, Committee on Home Affairs
• 1996–97—Member, Committee on Industry
• 1996–97—Member, Committee on Finance
• 1998–99—Member, Committee on Defence