Hyderabad: MIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi promised his party’s full support to the TRS government for the development of Telangana and Hyderabad city.

Mr Owaisi gave the assurance when a four-member TRS delegation led by Nayani Narasimha Reddy and comprising Etela Rajender, K.T. Rama Rao and T. Padma Rao met him and his brother, MIM Legislature Party leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, on Monday, and sought the MIM’s support for the new government.

The TRS has sought MIM support to accelerate development of the new state of Telangana and to improve the brand image of Hyderabad city, but gave no offer to it to join the government.

Asaduddin Owaisi said, “Joining is not important. We have to prove that Telangana will be one of the best perfor-ming states in the country. We have to strive for socio-economic development of the new state, and ensure pluralism...Ganga Jamuna tahzeeb. We have to further improve the brand image of Hyderabad.”

Mr Owaisi said he would meet TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao to carry forward the discussions on mutual cooperation.

Asked if the TRS would invite the MIM to join the government, Mr Narasimha Reddy said this was the first meeting and such decisions would be taken by Mr Chandrasekhar Rao.

The TRS has a simple majority of 63 in the Assembly of 119, but faces no threat from the Congress or BJP-TD combine since their numbers are too few. However, it may plan to consolidate its position by seeking the support of parties such as the MIM to ensure a smooth five-year tenure.

The MIM, which has seven MLAs and one MP, is a formidable force in Hyderabad and has influence in some pockets of Telangana. With MIM support, the TRS government would have the backing of 70 MLAs, and it would get the support of another 10 MLAs, TRS leaders claim.

“The MIM has decided to extend cooperation and support to the new government headed by KCR. We have discussed lots of issues about the development of Telangana. The city of Hyderabad must be developed at all costs and be made a favourable destination for multinational companies,” Mr Asaduddin Owaisi said after the luncheon meeting with the TRS delegation at Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi’s Banjara Hills residence.

Before the election results were out, there was talk that Mr Chandrasekhar Rao had offered the Deputy Chief Minister’s post to the MIM if the TRS missed the magic figure of 60 seats. But after the TRS got majority on its own, he made it clear that his party would form the government on its own.

TRS MLA K.T. Rama Rao said the people had bestowed a huge responsibility on the TRS and their prime task was to ensure accelerated development in all spheres in all the 10 districts and ensure peace and tranquillity in Hyderabad, and strive to improve the lot of Muslims, Christians and other minorities.

“We have to face the acid test in the next five years. Hyderabad’s growth engine needs a fillip. We sought MIM’s cooperation in implementing the Sachar committee report, protection of Wakf properties etc,” Mr Rama Rao added.