The by-election in Jubilee Hills (Hyderabad-Telangana) is more than just another poll—it’s become a major public judgment on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his Congress government, marking two years in office. At the same time, it’s a crucial do-or-die contest for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and its leader K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), who is still trying to recover from the heavy loss in the 2023 Assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also sees big stakes here. Jubilee Hills, an urban, high-profile constituency within the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat (held by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy), has become a key battleground for prestige and political relevance.
Three Parties, One Key Battle
This is only the second Assembly by-election since Congress swept into power in late 2023. The numbers show just how much is riding on this, especially for BRS. Congress surged ahead last year, winning 64 seats with 39.4% of the vote. They followed that up by capturing the Secunderabad Cantonment seat—previously a BRS bastion—in a subsequent by-election. BRS, now reduced to 39 seats and a 37.35% vote share, suffered a major blow losing its stronghold. Jubilee Hills became vacant after the untimely death of MLA Maganti Gopinath, and now his widow, Maganti Sunitha, is contesting as the BRS candidate. The party badly needs this win—not just for the numbers, but to show they’re still relevant. The BJP, which had just 8 seats and a 13.9% vote share last time, is again fielding Lankala Deepak Reddy, aiming to strengthen its appeal in urban Hyderabad and prove to its national leadership that it can outperform expectations.
Congress: Two Years in—Have They Delivered?
For Revanth Reddy, this by-election is about more than keeping a seat. It’s a test of his government’s two-year record, especially the ‘Six Guarantees’ welfare programs he has promoted. A win would show that Congress hasn’t just won on paper—they’ve truly earned people’s trust, even in this cosmopolitan, high-profile area. The party has chosen V. Naveen Yadav, a Backward Class leader, and forged a smart alliance with AIMIM. By not putting up a candidate, AIMIM has backed Congress, saying it’s better to focus on development and avoid splitting the minority vote—something that could otherwise benefit BJP. This move could help Congress consolidate the minority vote bank.
BRS Is Fighting for Relevance
For BRS, this is a fight for survival. Losing their last stronghold in the Cantonment by-election was painful, and they can’t risk losing Jubilee Hills as well. Their strategy: fielding Maganti Sunitha, hoping voters will support the widow of the late MLA. But the party faces deeper challenges—internal rifts and a recent drift of its supporters towards the BJP, especially after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Another defeat here would worsen BRS’s crisis, further hurt KCR’s standing, and likely trigger more defections.
BJP Is Targeting Urban Turf
The BJP is all-in for this contest, especially with Union Minister Kishan Reddy’s direct involvement. They’re looking to build on their momentum from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where their Telangana vote share grew. Even if they don’t clinch victory, a strong performance would position the BJP as the main challenger to Congress in the state—and push BRS further to the sidelines. Their approach is to tap into any anti-incumbency against BRS and highlight every shortcoming of the Congress government’s two-year term. In Jubilee Hills, more than just votes are at stake. Each party is battling for its future.
Database of Electoral Performance
Jubilee Hills marks only the second Assembly by-election since Congress came to power at the end of 2023, and all eyes are on the main parties—especially the BRS—to see how they perform. Congress, which recently swept the state polls with 64 seats and 39.4% of the vote, already took Secunderabad Cantonment from the BRS in a recent by-election. Now, they’re aiming to show their popularity in urban areas too, fielding V. Naveen Yadav as their candidate from the politically dominant Yadav Caste (OBC) in Jubilee Hills.
The BRS, which secured 39 seats and 37.35% of the vote in 2023, lost that same Secunderabad Cantonment seat. They can’t afford another setback. This by-election is crucial—the seat is vacant after the death of MLA Maganti Gopinath, and the BRS is banking on his widow, Maganti Sunitha, to retain it. Another loss here would only deepen their troubles.
Then there’s the BJP. Last time, they won 8 seats with 13.9% of the vote, but didn’t even contest the Secunderabad Cantonment by-poll. In Jubilee Hills, their mission is clear: grow their urban vote share and show strength in a constituency with ties to a Central Minister. They’ve nominated Lankala Deepak Reddy, who has previously contested from this seat.
This by-election is more than just another vote—it’s a reflection of how Telangana’s politics are evolving. Congress is looking to solidify its control and back up its promises. The BRS is battling to stop its decline. The BJP wants to prove it’s more than a distant third. While the result won’t threaten the Revanth Reddy government, a Congress win would give their narrative a significant boost. If the BRS manages a win, it could finally slow their losing streak. And if the BJP makes major gains, it would send a strong message that Telangana is gearing up for a real three-way contest. In short, Jubilee Hills is where the big players’ futures are on the line, and the outcome will help shape the mood for the next round of elections.
