Deccan News Service | Hyderabad

The political temperature in Hyderabad has reached its peak as polling begins today for the high-stakes Jubilee Hills by-election, where voters will decide between continuity, change, or a new alternative. Polling will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., marking the culmination of a month-long, high-voltage campaign that saw top leaders from all major parties hit the ground.

Triggered by the demise of sitting BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath, the bypoll has drawn 58 candidates, though the triangular contest between Maganti Sunitha (BRS), Naveen Yadav (Congress), and Lankala Deepak Reddy (BJP) has taken center stage. The outcome, to be declared on November 14, is expected to carry political implications far beyond the constituency.

BRS: Banking on Legacy and Sympathy

For the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the contest is both emotional and strategic. Having held the seat in three of the last four elections since 2009, the party hopes to retain Jubilee Hills by invoking the sympathy factor for the late Gopinath and highlighting its development record under K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s leadership.

K. T. Rama Rao, who spearheaded the BRS campaign, accused the ruling Congress of “betraying the trust of the people” and failing to deliver on its promises. He underscored the BRS government’s decade-long achievements — double-bedroom housing, flyovers, free drinking water, and IT expansion — as hallmarks of true progress.

Congress: Seeking Validation Through Welfare

The Congress has treated the bypoll as a referendum on its governance under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The Chief Minister led a six-day, three-phase campaign, supported by 14 ministers and 40 MLAs, conducting intensive door-to-door outreach in bastis.

The Congress narrative revolves around welfare and inclusive growth, anchored in flagship schemes such as free RTC travel for women, Indiramma housing, and gas subsidy. The party is also relying on the MIM’s declared support and the promise of a ministerial post for Mohammad Azharuddin to consolidate the 30% Muslim vote in the constituency.

BJP: Projecting Nationalism and Governance

While the BJP remains the third major contender, it views the bypoll as an opportunity to showcase its growing urban base in Hyderabad. Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, along with State President G. Ramachandra Rao, led an aggressive campaign that branded the Congress and BRS as “two sides of the same coin.”

The BJP positioned itself as a clean, nationalist alternative, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and promising transparent, corruption-free governance. The party aims to attract disillusioned urban voters, youth, and small traders, using this bypoll as a springboard for the 2028 Assembly elections.

Money, Temptations, and Technology in Play

The campaign was marred by reports of cash-for-vote offers ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 per voter, along with the distribution of cookers and sarees. The Election Commission has deployed an exclusive digital monitoring app to track polling trends every two hours, along with webcasting, drone surveillance, and CRPF deployment in sensitive zones.

With 58 candidates, each polling station will use four ballot units, with NOTA listed as option number 59.

Low Turnout, High Stakes

Historically, voter turnout in Jubilee Hills has remained subdued — 50.18% (2014), 45.59% (2018), and 47.58% (2023). With 4.01 lakh registered voters, officials estimate the turnout may remain below two lakh this time.

Chief Electoral Officer Sudarshan Reddy said all arrangements were in place. “A total of 407 polling stations, including five model centers, have been set up. CRPF forces are on duty, and a 24-hour control room has been established for real-time monitoring,” he said. For the first time, drone-based surveillance is being used to enhance transparency.

Beyond Jubilee Hills

The verdict from Jubilee Hills will echo far beyond Hyderabad.
A Congress victory could reaffirm public confidence in Revanth Reddy’s governance; a BRS win may revive KCR’s political momentum; and a strong BJP performance could reshape Telangana’s urban political narrative.

Whichever way the numbers fall, Jubilee Hills today stands as the pulse of Telangana politics — a decisive test of leadership, strategy, and the shifting mood of the urban voter.