Owaisis have been powerful in Hyderabad politics since independence. They were originally followers of Nizam rule and set up the Razakars, who fought a losing battle against the Indian Union. It all started with Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi who became a Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad in 1984. Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat has been retained by MIM and Owaisi since then.
The two sons of Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi – Asaduddin and Akbaruddin- have courted controversy for their hate speeches directed against the majority community.
