Jubilee Hills Bypoll: High-Stakes Battle Puts Revanth Reddy's Leadership to Test

The

prestigious Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency is witnessing a heated triangular contest as campaigning ended on Sunday for the November 11 bypoll - a high-stakes election seen as a key test of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s leadership and the ruling Congress government’s popularity.The bypoll was necessitated by the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year. Gopinath’s widow, Sunita Gopinath, is contesting as the BRS candidate, while the Congress has fielded Naveen Yadav, who also enjoys the backing of the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM. The BJP’s candidate is Deepak Reddy, a familiar name in Hyderabad’s political circles.

Triangular Fight Turns Into Political Prestige Battle

Though the bypoll result will not affect the stability of the Congress government, it is being viewed as a mini-referendum on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s performance since assuming office last year. A Congress victory would cement the party’s growing influence in Hyderabad, while a loss could embolden both the BRS and the BJP.The BRS, which lost power in 2023 and failed to win any Lok Sabha seat in 2024, faces a make-or-break moment. Jubilee Hills was one of its strongholds until Gopinath’s passing, and losing the seat could further erode its position in Telangana politics.For the BJP, the bypoll presents an opportunity to showcase its growing footprint in urban Telangana and position itself as a credible alternative to the Congress in the 2028 assembly polls.

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Revanth Reddy Leads From the Front

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy led the Congress campaign personally, holding multiple roadshows and public meetings in the constituency -- a move rarely seen from a sitting CM in a by-election. Confident of a victory, Reddy said on Sunday that the “BJP will lose its deposit and the BRS will be vanquished.”The Congress deployed its entire cabinet, with ministers and senior leaders canvassing across neighbourhoods. The party is also banking on the influence of cricketer-turned-minister Mohammad Azharuddin, whose recent inclusion in the state cabinet is expected to help consolidate Muslim votes in the constituency.The AIMIM’s decision to back the Congress further bolsters its chances in a seat where Muslim voters, estimated at around one lakh, are expected to play a decisive role.

BJP and BRS Pull Out All Stops

The BJP’s campaign has been equally intense, led by Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who held multiple rallies, padayatras, and street meetings.The BRS, determined to retain its former bastion, fielded senior leaders including KT Rama Rao, who conducted daily roadshows and door-to-door outreach. For the regional party, winning Jubilee Hills is essential to prove its relevance after consecutive electoral setbacks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzlD_LyiwOM

Tight Security, High Voter Turnout Expected

According to Hyderabad District Election Officer RV Karnan, polling will be held across 407 stations, of which 226 have been identified as "critical". More than 1,700 police personnel and eight companies of CISF have been deployed to maintain order, with webcasting and drone surveillance at every booth, reports PTI.The police have also set up “striking forces” and mobile squads to ensure peaceful polling. Liquor sales have been banned in the area from 6 PM on November 9 until 6 PM on polling day. The prohibition will be reimposed on counting day, November 14, until results are declared.

Voter Profile and Poll Mechanics

Jubilee Hills constituency has 4.01 lakh voters, including 2,08,561 men, 1,92,779 women, and 25 transgender voters. With 58 candidates in the fray, each polling station will use four ballot units connected to a single control unit and VVPAT machine.So far, election officials have registered 27 cases of model code of conduct violations.