Hyderabad: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader and the Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi on Thursday withdrew his nomination papers. With this, doubts over the MIM candidate for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency have been cleared. Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi had filed his papers on March 20, which created confusion as his elder brother and party president Asaduddin Owaisi had filed his papers. Later party chief and sitting MP Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi had clarified that the filing of nomination by his brother was part of the back-up plan of the party, which was a common practice.  That did not clear the doubts in many people's minds.

also read: Sumalatha Ambareesh, Prakash Raj got their election symbols

A total of 24 candidates had filed their papers for the Hyderabad seat. While five nominations were rejected during scrutiny, four including Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi, withdrew. Mr. Bhagwanth Rao Pawar (BJP), Mr. Mohammed Feroz Khan (Congress), Mr. Pusthe Srikanth (TRS), Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi (MIM) are among the 15 candidates who are in the fray.

also read:13 Candidates in fray from Mangaluru Lok Sabha seat