Indian politician. Among the very few who have been elected six consecutive terms as Member of the Indian Parliament, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, who served from the city of Hyderabad, stepped down in 2004. Also known as 'Salar-e-Millat' (commander of the community) Sultan was the president of the All India Majlis-e-Itehadul Muslimeen repeated in his speeches that the Indian state had 'abandoned' the Muslims to their fate. He, therefore, called 'Muslims should stand on their own feet, rather than look to the State for help.' Considered to be the most prominent Muslim leader in Hyderabad, people rallied behind Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi who could tilt the Muslim vote-bank in Andhra Pradesh.