The by poll for Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency in Hyderabad, to be held soon, is emerging as a high-stakes triangular contest among the three major political parties: the ruling Congress, the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with their perceptible growth as a stronger force linked to their performance in the elections.
The by poll is necessitated by the death of sitting Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Maganti Gopinath, who won the constituency three times – in 2014 as a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA and joining the BRS, and later as the BRS candidate in 2018 and 2023.
First challenge for BRS working president
The BRS is struggling with the family feud in the form of MLC and former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha showing the signs of rebellion and differing with her brother K.T. Rama Rao and a few others. It will be the first challenge for the party’s working president KTR, as well after KCR not being so active in day-to-day politics for various reasons.
For KTR, it is not just about retaining the constituency but proving that he can pull off a victory in the most tough times with the ruling Congress determined to win it and the BJP trying to emerge as the alternative to the BRS to take on the Congress.
BRS’s strength in urban constituencies
Despite losing the 2023 Assembly polls and power, the BRS still managed to secure a majority of Assembly constituencies in Hyderabad, a sign of its enduring urban strength, and also its political friendship with the AIMIM, which transferred its votes to the BRS in its strongholds in the Hyderabad core urban area, and its surroundings.
In the 2022 GHMC elections too, it had won 44 out of 150 divisions and retained the Mayor position with AIMIM support. That cushion is now taken out as the MIM has moved closer to the Congress and is expected to throw its weight behind the ruling party.
The BRS is also facing new vulnerabilities. Since the Congress came to power, several BRS corporators, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor have switched sides, weakening its presence. The Congress being the ruling party has gained strength despite no presence in the core GHMC area.
Congress won Cantonment by poll
The recent loss of the Cantonment seat in a by poll to the Congress has further dented its morale. While the Congress has pushed three Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Tummala Nageshwar Rao and G. Vivek into the field, BRS has not yet assigned the job to anyone.
KTR is expected to take charge and use his pro-urban image to take it forward apart from using the sympathy factor. The most likely candidate would be a member of Gopinath’s family as no other strong leader would be keen to contest in the present circumstances.
Next big test for Revanth Reddy
For Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, the Jubilee Hills by poll is the next big test after successfully wresting the Cantonment seat from the BRS. Another win would cement his reputation as a vote-catcher and strengthen Congress’s grip on the State narrative. A defeat could embolden rivals and puncture the Congress’s claims of momentum.
Urban voters rejected the Congress in the last Assembly polls due to the absence of a major city leader. Since then, some of the BRS MLAs have joined the Congress including Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender.
Congress is hunting for a strong candidate though several candidates are keen to contest. Former Indian captain Mohd Azharuddin, who contested in the 2023 elections, is keen on retaining his seat, and is sure of making into the Cabinet as there is no Muslim face in it as of now.
With the BC movement gaining traction, Naveen Yadav, who earlier contested as a MIM candidate and secured considerable votes, is seen as having stronger chances, though Azharuddin’s proximity to Sonia Gandhi adds weight to his claim. Corporator Vijaya Reddy, daughter of the late Congress stalwart P. Janardhan Reddy, is another possible choice.
The BJP is likely to rake up the Hindu-Muslim vote if the Congress fields a Muslim candidate, and this fears the Congress. Jubilee Hills has around 34% of Muslim votes in the constituency. Congress has a tight rope to walk as there is no Muslim MLA in the Assembly from the Congress. Â
Testing grund for new BJP state President
For the BJP, Jubilee Hills is less about defending turf and more about signalling its intent. The bypoll will be the first real test for the party under its new state president, N. Ramchander Rao, who is keen to lay a solid foundation for expansion in Telangana.
Names in contention for the BJP ticket include L. Deepak Reddy, who lost the last election here, and former Khairatabad MLA Ramchander Reddy. As Jubilee Hills falls under Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy’s political standing is also linked to the outcome.
Traditionally, bypolls caused by the death of an MLA in undivided Andhra Pradesh often went uncontested as a mark of respect. KCR, however, ended that practice during his rise to power, and the BRS cannot now expect the same courtesy.
With sympathy, strategy, defections and resources all at play, Jubilee Hills is set to witness a fiercely contested battle that could lay the path for GHMC polls. The outcome will not only decide who holds one additional Assembly seat but will also send a larger message about the direction of Telangana politics.
Published – August 25, 2025 04:32 pm IST
