BJP Alleges Rs 200 Crore Congress-AIMIM Deal, Temple Land Donation in Jubilee Hills Bypoll

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar accused the Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) of striking a "Rs 200 crore secret deal" with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on October 22, 2025, during a roadshow in Hyderabad supporting BJP candidate L. Deepak Reddy for the Jubilee Hills Assembly bypoll. The allegations, made amid escalating political tensions ahead of the November 11 bypoll, question AIMIM's decision to back Congress candidate Naveen Yadav instead of fielding its own contender. Kumar claimed that a Congress victory would lead to donating 11 acres of land from the Peddamma Gudi temple—dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi—to AIMIM, framing the support as a quid pro quo. He further alleged that AIMIM's non-participation in Jubilee Hills contrasts with its national strategy to undermine BJP elsewhere, suggesting coordinated efforts between the parties.

The Jubilee Hills bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in July 2025, leaving the upscale Hyderabad constituency vacant. This seat, part of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area, has long been a battleground for regional dynamics, with AIMIM holding sway in adjacent Muslim-dominated segments. Kumar's roadshow, drawing crowds along key thoroughfares, positioned the election as the "first step toward a new Telangana", urging voters to choose Reddy for "transparent governance and true development".

He likened the Congress-BRS-AIMIM nexus to "flying a kite", with AIMIM as the kite and the other two holding the strings, vowing that BJP would "cut both threads". The minister's remarks echo the BJP's broader narrative of accusing opposition alliances of minority appeasement, a tactic amplified during recent Bihar polls where AIMIM's potential role drew scrutiny.

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi responded by clarifying that the party's support for Yadav is limited to this bypoll, aimed at ensuring local development under the current Congress-led government. "This is the decision of the party. The current government will stay for at least 2.5-3 years in power, and this by-election will not change anything," Owaisi stated, adding that AIMIM's strategy for the 2028 Assembly elections would differ.

Neither Congress nor BRS has issued an official rebuttal to the corruption claims as of yet, though party sources dismissed them as "election-time rhetoric". The bypoll, one of several in Telangana, highlights fragile opposition unity, as BRS and Congress navigate post-2023 Assembly defeats while countering BJP's aggressive expansion in the South.

Also Read: Was Mohammad Rizwan Dropped As Pakistan ODI Captain Over Betting Refusal?

As campaigning intensifies, the controversy underscores deepening communal undercurrents in Telangana politics, where land disputes and development promises often intersect with identity issues. With Jubilee Hills' diverse electorate—including tech professionals and affluent residents—the outcome could signal shifts ahead of 2028 polls. Voter turnout, historically around 55%, will be pivotal, as independents and smaller parties add unpredictability. For BJP, securing the seat would mark a foothold in Hyderabad's urban core; for Congress, retaining it bolsters Revanth Reddy's fledgling administration. The Election Commission has urged restraint amid rising rhetoric, emphasising model code compliance.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Speaker Appoints Lawyer to Assist Panel Probing Justice Varma Graft Case