Early Life and Political Career:
Mohammed Ali Shabbir, born on February 15, 1957, is an Indian politician known for his contributions to Telangana’s political landscape. Hailing from an agricultural family in Kamareddy, Shabbir Ali began his political journey with the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) in the late 1970s. His father, the late Mohammed Masoom, was a veteran Congress leader who donated his house to establish the regional Congress office, which now serves as the Kamareddy District Congress Committee (DCC) office.
After earning a degree in Commerce, Shabbir Ali joined the Youth Congress and actively participated in various party activities. He gained prominence in 1989 when, along with other Youth Congress workers, he was jailed for 29 days after storming the Legislative Assembly to protest against remarks made by a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) minister against Rajiv Gandhi. Later that year, he contested the Kamareddy seat in the 1989 elections and won by a significant margin. At just 32 years old, he was appointed as a minister in the cabinet of Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy, handling portfolios such as Wakf, Sugar, Fisheries, and Khadi & Village Handicrafts.
Pioneering Minority Welfare:
In 1993, Shabbir Ali made history by becoming India’s first Minorities Welfare Minister, playing a key role in establishing the country’s first Minorities Welfare Department. Under his leadership, Rs. 2 crore was allocated in the 1993-94 budget specifically for minority welfare. This initiative inspired other states to adopt similar models, eventually leading to the creation of a dedicated Minority Welfare Department at the national level in 2006.
Shabbir Ali was also instrumental in initiating the process of securing reservations for the Muslim community. In 1994, he convinced then-Chief Minister Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy to issue a Government Order (GO) providing reservations for Muslims and 14 other castes. However, this initiative stalled after the Congress lost the 1994 and 1999 elections.
Key Achievements and Challenges:
In 2004, following a successful campaign, Shabbir Ali was re-elected from the Kamareddy seat with a majority of over 52,000 votes. He was appointed as a minister in Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s cabinet, where he oversaw critical portfolios including Information & Public Relations, Energy, Coal, Minorities Welfare, Wakf & Urdu Academy, and NRI Affairs. Within 58 days of the Congress returning to power, the government implemented a 5% reservation for Muslims, which was later adjusted to 4% following a High Court order in line with the Supreme Court’s 50% ceiling on reservations. This policy has since benefitted nearly 2 million economically disadvantaged Muslims in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, enabling them to access education and government jobs.
Shabbir Ali also played a crucial role in major infrastructure projects in Hyderabad, including the development of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, the 162-km Outer Ring Road, and an 11 km-long expressway. As the District In-charge Minister for Greater Hyderabad and Kadapa, he had a significant influence on the region’s development.
Personal Trials:
Shabbir Ali survived an assassination attempt on July 1, 1997, when Naxalites planted claymore bombs to prevent him and other leaders, including MP M. Baga Reddy, from unveiling statues of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in Machareddy mandal, Kamareddy constituency. The attack claimed the lives of five Congress workers and left nine others seriously injured.
Party Leadership and National Involvement:
Throughout his career, Shabbir Ali held various leadership roles within the Congress party, including State General Secretary, Vice-President of the Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress, and DCC President of Nizamabad. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Telangana Legislative Council from April 4, 2015, to December 22, 2018.
Shabbir Ali was a Star Campaigner for Congress in several state elections, including Goa (2017), Karnataka (2018), and Bihar (2020). He also actively participated in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Recent Developments:
After the formation of Congress Government in December 2023, Shabbir Ali was appointed as the Advisor to the Telangana Government (SC, ST, OBC, and Minorities), with the rank and status of a Minister of State.
Shabbir Ali remains a key figure in Telangana politics, known for his dedication to minority welfare and his significant contributions to the state’s development.
