Akbaruddin Owaisi's '15-Minute' Remark Ignites Maharashtra Polls: A Controversy Revived!
Maharashtra – AIMIM leader and maverick Akbaruddin Owaisi has ignited controversy again as he recalled his infamous "15-minute" remark during the Maharashtra polls. The first time Owaisi made the statement was in 2012; now, as he repeated it during a speech in Aurangabad, it shows he stood by the words even in the elections.
Flashback to the '15-Minute' Controversy
During his campaign speech, Owaisi mentioned the time left for the event, saying, "It's 9:45 and we still have 15 minutes." Then he commented, "15 minutes are left; patience, please. She will not leave my side, and I won't leave hers. It is going on, but what an echo it is." This allusion quickly attracted attention and is expected to spark discussions on politics in the coming days.
The statement in 2012 that caused a firestorm was: "If the police are removed for 15 minutes, then everybody will realize who is powerful and who is weak." This also resulted in a police case against him and he was detained for a short while. He is acquitted under "benefit of the doubt." But that statement forever lodged in everybody's minds, and is commonly quoted and used by politicians during debates.
Background and Legacy
One of his brothers is Akbaruddin Owaisi, AIMIM chief and MP from Hyderabad, who has been representing the Chandrayangutta constituency in Telangana for six consecutive terms. He is a known firebrand orator and is still an important leader in his party's wider outreach plans outside Telangana, like Maharashtra.
Currently, it is contesting 16 seats in the Maharashtra assembly elections, focusing more on its efforts rather than its 2019 campaign where it contests in 44 constituencies, but could manage to win only two. Meanwhile, both Owaisi brothers were campaigning across Maharashtra as well as in the other states with an intention of broadening their foothold in the region.
Political Impact and Reactions
Owaisi's speech recently once again brought his "15-minute" comment back into the fray, sparking fresh debate over his previous comments and approach toward community-centric issues. Political analysts predict that his remarks would influence campaign dynamics in Maharashtra, especially as parties respond to the possible repercussions of his comments.
Owaisi is likely standing rock-solid on his position, maybe in an attempt to energize the electorate and throw a message of resilience. As elections roll out in the state of Maharashtra, Akbaruddin Owaisi's comments will continue to be the talk of the town in political discourse, rallying some into support and others into opposition.
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