High-Stakes Battle in Jubilee Hills as Congress, BRS and BJP Clash for Political Supremacy in Crucial By-Election

Hyderabad, Nov 2025 : The prestigious Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency is bracing for one of its most intense electoral battles in recent memory as the ruling Congress, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lock horns in a high-voltage by-election. What might otherwise have been a routine electoral exercise has turned into a political showdown with far-reaching implications for Telangana’s political landscape.

The contest has shaped up into a prestige battle between Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao (KTR). Although the result will not directly alter the strength of the Congress government — which holds a comfortable majority — the symbolic value of Jubilee Hills makes this by-election unusually significant. A BRS victory, especially after its drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls, would provide a psychological boost to the party and give it a foothold for a potential comeback ahead of the upcoming local body and GHMC elections.

Political Stakes and Symbolism

Jubilee Hills, located in the heart of Hyderabad, has always been a high-profile constituency due to its mix of the city’s elite, middle-class communities, and large pockets of the urban poor. For Congress, a win here would help consolidate its influence in Greater Hyderabad, a region where it secured minimal gains in the 2023 Assembly polls despite forming the government statewide. For BRS, the constituency represents an opportunity to regain its waning urban credibility.

Recognising the stakes, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy deployed the full might of his Cabinet and party machinery to campaign for the Congress candidate Naveen Yadav. The party framed the election as a referendum on its governance and development agenda for Hyderabad.

On the other hand, the BRS — which ruled Telangana for a decade — has put up a fierce defence of the seat, fielding Maganti Sunitha, wife of late MLA Maganti Gopinath whose death necessitated the by-election. KTR and senior BRS leaders have been campaigning aggressively, attempting to galvanise the party cadre demoralised by a string of electoral setbacks.

The BJP, too, has refused to be a bystander. Led by Union Minister and Secunderabad MP G. Kishan Reddy, the saffron party has been campaigning vigorously in an effort to emerge as the “surprise factor” in a contest traditionally seen as a Congress–BRS fight. Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar, state BJP president Ramchander Rao, and a battery of party MPs and MLAs have turned the by-election into a triangular tussle.

Jubilee Hills: A Constituency of Contrasts

Created during the 2009 delimitation exercise, Jubilee Hills is known globally as home to film stars, industrialists, and political heavyweights. Yet, tucked behind its high-end bungalows lie large neighbourhoods of middle-class families, weaker sections, and slum clusters that struggle with issues like water shortage, drainage problems, inadequate sanitation, and congestion.

This socio-economic diversity makes Jubilee Hills an unpredictable battleground.

While the Congress blames BRS for a decade of stalled development, the BJP blames both Congress and BRS, arguing that neither party addressed urban civic concerns. As a result, voters from different income groups have aligned with different narratives, making the election a complex political puzzle.

A Look at Electoral History

The Congress won the seat in 2009 when it was in power in unified Andhra Pradesh. However, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) snatched the seat in 2014, riding on the massive churn in Telangana politics after statehood.

Shortly after his 2014 win, TDP MLA Maganti Gopinath switched to the TRS (now BRS), aligning with the newly formed state government. He successfully retained the seat in 2018 and 2023, becoming a three-time MLA.

In 2014, AIMIM fielded Naveen Yadav, who finished a strong second, trailing Gopinath by only 9,242 votes. Congress finished third. In 2018, AIMIM refrained from contesting — widely seen as an attempt to support TRS. Gopinath then comfortably defeated Congress candidate P. Vishnuvardhan Reddy.

In 2023, Congress fielded former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin. AIMIM unexpectedly fielded Rashed Farazuddin that year, a move interpreted by Congress as helping BRS. Gopinath won again by over 16,300 votes.

This time, however, the equations have dramatically changed.

AIMIM Supports Congress

For the first time in more than a decade, AIMIM is supporting Congress openly in Jubilee Hills. Asaduddin Owaisi’s party, which backed BRS for 10 years, shifted its stance after Congress came to power in 2023. AIMIM has opted not to contest the by-election and is instead actively supporting Congress candidate Naveen Yadav.

This newfound Congress–AIMIM understanding has unsettled both the BRS and BJP. Political analysts believe the support of AIMIM — with Muslim voters constituting nearly 35 percent of the electorate — could significantly influence the outcome.

Campaign Dips Into Controversy

The campaign witnessed its most dramatic moment when Mohammed Azharuddin was inducted into the state Cabinet during the final phase of canvassing. The move was seen as Congress’s attempt to counter allegations from BRS that the government lacked Muslim representation even after nearly two years in power.

BRS termed the move “desperate,” accusing the Congress of scrambling to regain lost trust among Muslim voters after failing to deliver on its “six guarantees” and various electoral promises.

The BJP seized on the development as well, accusing Congress of indulging in “minority appeasement.” The party went so far as to urge the Election Commission to stop the Cabinet expansion, alleging that it violated the model code of conduct.

Adding fuel to the fire, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s controversial comment — “If Congress exists, Muslims exist” — triggered a political storm. BRS leaders, BJP leaders, and even some Muslim groups demanded an apology, accusing him of stoking communal sentiment.

Revanth Reddy, however, clarified that his remarks were twisted and taken out of context, asserting that he merely intended to highlight Congress’s historical role in supporting minorities. Azharuddin and senior Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir defended the Chief Minister, reiterating that the Congress has always been a “natural home” for minority communities.

The BJP, however, escalated its attack. Union Minister Bandi Sanjay, known for his fiery rhetoric, branded Congress a “party of Muslims” and alleged that along with AIMIM, it was attempting to turn Telangana into an “Islamic state.” He urged Hindus to consolidate as a single vote bank to oppose what he called “communal politics.”

His comments intensified the political heat. In one of the sharpest exchanges of the campaign, Sanjay ridiculed Revanth Reddy for wearing a skull cap during campaigning, saying: “If a day comes when I must wear a skull cap for votes, I’d rather cut off my head. I am an unapologetic Hindu.”

Revanth Reddy countered by asking whether, if the BJP lost the by-election, Bandi Sanjay would then accept that “Hindus are not with the BJP.”

A Referendum on Governance?

The BRS has framed the by-election as a referendum on the Congress government’s performance. Senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao claimed there was a “silent wave” in favour of the BRS and that the election would decide the future of “four crore people of Telangana.”

Congress counters this with its own narrative, arguing that it needs the Jubilee Hills seat to strengthen its presence in Hyderabad ahead of the GHMC elections.

For the BJP, the by-election is an opportunity to position itself as the primary challenger to Congress in urban Telangana, particularly after making inroads in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

A Tight, Triangular Contest Looms

With three major players — Congress, BRS, and BJP — all deeply invested in the outcome, the Jubilee Hills by-election has turned into a political battlefield of state-level consequences. Each party is fighting not only for a seat but for momentum, perception, and political narrative.

As Jubilee Hills heads to polling, one thing is clear: this is not merely a by-election — it is a high-stakes referendum on past governance, present alliances, and future political direction in Telangana.

Team Maverick.