With Ms Kartika Reddy of the Congress all set to vacate the seat of Mayor on Monday, the search for a “right” candidate has begun in the MIM that has 43 corporators in the GHMC.

Among the serious contenders from MIM are former mayor Mir Zulfiqar Ali, who is presently a corporator from Hussaini Alam. He has the experience of carrying the image of the party as Mayor and also is close to the Owaisi family right from the time of late Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi. Deputy Mayor Jaffar Hussain is another front runner by virtue of having established a “clean image” during his two-year stint as deputy mayor.

Mohsin Balala, corporator from Pathergatti division is also a strong contender. He is younger brother of MIM MLA from Malakpet, Mr Ahmed Balala, who runs a private cable channel in old city (mouth piece of MIM). It was Ahmed Balala’s gunman who had shot one of the persons who attacked Akbaruddin Owaisi.

Ahmed was present when Akbaruddin Owaisi was attacked and is in the good books of the Owaisi brothers. Mohsin also stands a good chance to get the Mayor’s seat due to good offices of his elder brother with party bosses.

Syed Minhajuddin, corporator from Akbar Bagh and Mohammed Majid Hussain from Ahmednagar division are also in the fray due to their educational background. While the former holds MBA degree, the latter is a graduate who had earlier worked in banking sector.