Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills Bypoll: High-Stakes Political Battle Testing Revanth Reddy's Leadership

The Chief Minister himself has emphasized the importance of the ongoing bypoll.

Hyderabad:

Despite the summer's end, political temperatures in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills constituency have reached new heights. Though merely a bypoll with no direct impact on the governing structure, this election has evolved into a high-stakes confrontation with potential political ripple effects throughout the state.

The campaign has deteriorated into an intense verbal battle, characterized by personal attacks and allegations of covert alliances among Telangana's leading political figures.

While fundamentally a contest between Congress candidate Naveen Yadav and BRS representative Maganti Sunita, whose husband's passing necessitated this election, political observers widely regard it as a crucial test for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's leadership and his Congress government.

A Congress victory would demonstrate successful penetration into a traditional BRS stronghold within the city, boosting morale ahead of upcoming GHMC and local elections. Conversely, failure to secure the seat could embolden Revanth Reddy's critics both within and outside his party.

This explains the heated exchanges between Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao, and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, effectively transforming the election into a proxy battle among national and state political heavyweights.

Chief Minister Reddy ignited controversy with remarks about Muslim prosperity under Congress governance. His statement suggesting that the Muslim community's existence, survival, and advancement were inherently connected to Congress rule prompted immediate criticism and backlash.

Following public outcry, the Chief Minister quickly issued a clarification, claiming his comments were "misinterpreted" and that BRS members had "twisted words." He maintained that he intended to communicate Congress's commitment to supporting and protecting minority communities.

BRS Working President KT Rama Rao responded sharply, urging the Chief Minister to abandon the "illusion that without the Congress Party, Muslims wouldn't exist." He emphasized that Muslims have existed as a community for centuries before Congress's formation and would continue regardless of the party's fate. KTR called on the Chief Minister to "stop making such irresponsible statements."

AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi declared: "Whether it is the Congress or the BRS, we know how to get our work done, and we will get work done by everyone, and we have been doing it. We are not among those who become a tail and run behind someone. The world sees that we are running, but the world does not see that they are coming after us, they are running behind us. This is the strength of this community (Jamaat). This is the power."

Minority leader Abdul Mukhi Chand accused the Chief Minister of "threatening Muslims" and alleged coordinated intimidation by Revanth Reddy and Kishan Reddy, referencing the Chief Minister's background as an "RSS student."

With 30 percent minority voters in Jubilee Hills constituency, the significance of Mohd Azharuddin's induction into the Telangana cabinet during active campaigning hasn't gone unnoticed.

Chief Minister Reddy claimed the BJP had opposed Azharuddin's appointment as minister, describing him as a prominent minority leader.

Another controversial statement from Chief Minister Reddy challenged Union Minister Kishan Reddy to have the CBI file an FIR against KCR and Harish Rao in the Kaleswaram case and secure their arrest before November 11. He accused the BJP and BRS of maintaining a "Fevicol bond" – a sticky alliance – alleging that BJP was sacrificing itself to benefit BRS.

Reddy also questioned why permission to arrest KTR in the Formula E race case was being withheld, calling it evidence of a "secret deal" with BJP providing "indirect support" to BRS during the bypoll. He further claimed that BRS was planning to "merge into the BJP" soon, citing KTR's sister as his information source.

Union Minister Reddy has largely dismissed the Chief Minister's challenges. Without directly addressing the CBI deadline, he has framed the contest as ultimately beneficial to BJP due to public dissatisfaction with both BRS and Congress.

Kishan Reddy has consistently characterized the Jubilee Hills bypoll as a "three-cornered contest" where BJP holds the advantage. He advised KTR to "stop daydreaming," suggesting that BRS has no political future in the state.

The Chief Minister emphasized the significance of this election, stating that it transcends the individual candidates, Naveen Yadav (Congress) and Sunithamma (BRS), representing instead a clash of political titans.

"The Jubilee Hills election is not between Naveen Yadav and Sunithamma. It's a battle between PM Modi + KCR vs Revanth, Rahul, and Asaduddin. If you have the guts, come and show it, let's see. I have the courage, and I will make Naveen Yadav win," Chief Minister Reddy declared.

The heightened rhetoric indicates that the Jubilee Hills by-election represents far more than a single assembly seat – it serves as a crucial indicator of political power and momentum in Telangana.