The Jubilee Hills by-election in Hyderabad, which was initially expected to be a low-stakes contest, has transformed into one of the most heated political battles in Telangana’s recent history. Although the outcome of the bypoll is unlikely to change the balance of power in the state, its symbolic significance has drawn in major political players, turning it into a proxy war between the Congress, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The contest primarily pits Congress candidate Naveen Yadav against BRS nominee Maganti Sunitha, whose husband’s passing triggered the by-election. However, political observers say the result will serve as a litmus test for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s leadership and the Congress government’s growing influence in former BRS strongholds. A Congress win would solidify the party’s dominance in Hyderabad ahead of the GHMC and local body polls, while a loss could reignite internal dissent within the party ranks.

The campaign has been marked by personal attacks, sharp communal references, and allegations of backroom political alliances. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy sparked controversy when he claimed that the Muslim community’s progress and survival were intrinsically tied to the Congress Party. Faced with backlash, he later clarified that his remarks were misrepresented and only meant to emphasize the party’s support for minority welfare. His remark drew criticism from BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, who accused him of “living under an illusion” and reminded him that “Muslims existed long before Congress and will thrive regardless of it.” AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi also weighed in, asserting that his party knows “how to get work done by everyone” and needs no political patronage.

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Tensions further escalated when Revanth Reddy accused the BJP and BRS of sharing a “Fevicol bond,” implying a covert alliance. He challenged Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy to direct the CBI to file FIRs against former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and Harish Rao in the Kaleswaram irrigation project case. He questioned why arrests weren’t being made against K.T. Rama Rao, suggesting “a secret deal” between the BJP and BRS. Kishan Reddy, in response, dismissed the allegations and said the BJP would emerge stronger as voters were growing disillusioned with both Congress and BRS.

With 30 percent of Jubilee Hills’ electorate belonging to minority communities, the recent inclusion of former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin into the state cabinet has also become part of the bypoll narrative. The Chief Minister claimed that the BJP opposed Azharuddin’s elevation, portraying the Congress as the party of minority inclusion. Meanwhile, KTR has countered that Congress is resorting to divisive politics to distract from its failures.

As polling day approaches, the by-election has taken on outsized political significance. What was meant to be a local contest between two candidates has become a symbolic battle among the state’s most prominent figures — Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, K.T. Rama Rao, and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy. The outcome may determine more than just who represents Jubilee Hills; it could help shape the tone of Telangana’s politics in the months leading up to municipal and national elections.

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