Hyderabad, Nov 9 (NationPress) The Jubilee Hills constituency is poised for a high-stakes showdown in the upcoming bye-election, as the ruling Congress party is leaving no stone unturned to reclaim the seat from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which is equally determined to make a comeback.

This prominent constituency in the center of Telangana's capital is witnessing a prestige clash between Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and BRS's working president K. T. Rama Rao, both of whom are spearheading their parties' campaigns.

While the results of this bye-election may not directly influence the Congress government, which currently enjoys a strong majority, the Chief Minister recognizes that a victory for the BRS could signify a revival on the political front after its recent setback in the Lok Sabha elections.

A loss for Congress would not only boost the morale of BRS supporters ahead of local body elections but would also embolden critics of Revanth Reddy within his own party.

Given these stakes, it comes as no surprise that the Chief Minister and his entire Cabinet are vigorously supporting Congress candidate Naveen Yadav.

Although the bye-election is largely perceived as a direct contest between Congress and BRS, the BJP is also making concerted efforts to disrupt both parties' aspirations.

The BJP's aggressive campaign is spearheaded by Union Minister and local MP G. Kishan Reddy, with significant involvement from Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar, state BJP president Ramchander Rao, and various party MPs and MLAs.

With the passing of sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath of BRS necessitating this bye-election, the stakes are exceptionally high for all three major contenders.

BRS has nominated Gopinath's widow, Maganti Sunitha, while the BJP has put forth Lankala Deepak Reddy, who secured third place in the last election.

Confident about retaining the seat, BRS has described this bye-election as a referendum on the government's performance.

Senior party leader T. Harish Rao believes there is a silent wave favoring BRS, asserting that the bye-election will determine the future of four crore people in Telangana, not just four lakh voters.

This bye-election is crucial for the Congress party to fortify its presence in Greater Hyderabad, a region where it faced challenges in the 2023 elections, despite having taken power from BRS.

While a recent victory in the Secunderabad Cantonment bye-election allowed Congress to make its mark, capturing the BRS stronghold of Jubilee Hills is essential for bolstering its position ahead of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.

Jubilee Hills emerged as a constituency following the delimitation of electoral boundaries in 2009 and derives its name from the affluent neighborhood known for its celebrities and as a hub for Tollywood; however, it also includes many middle-class and underprivileged areas that lack basic civic amenities.

The Congress party has accused BRS of neglecting the area's development during its decade-long rule, while the BJP has criticized both parties for poor civic services, given their shared history of representation since the constituency's inception.

Congress won the seat in 2009 during its tenure in undivided Andhra Pradesh, but the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) claimed it in 2014.

Shortly after winning on the TDP ticket, Maganti Gopinath shifted allegiance to TRS (now BRS), which formed the first government in the newly established Telangana state.

In the 2014 elections, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) fielded candidate Naveen Yadav, who lost to Gopinath by a narrow margin of 9,242 votes, with Congress finishing third and TRS in a distant fourth.

AIMIM chose not to contest in 2018, seemingly to support its then-allied party, TRS, in retaining the seat.

Gopinath secured his second consecutive victory in 2018, defeating Congress's P. Vishnuvardhan Reddy by 16,004 votes.

In the 2023 elections, Congress nominated former cricket captain and MP Mohammed Azharuddin, while AIMIM, believed to be assisting BRS, put forth Rashed Farazuddin.

BRS's Gopinath achieved a hat-trick by defeating Azharuddin with a margin of 16,337 votes, receiving 80,549 votes to Azharuddin's 64,212. BJP's Deepak Reddy finished third with 25,866 votes, while AIMIM's Farazuddin garnered only 7,848 votes.

This time, Congress's chances have been bolstered by AIMIM's endorsement.

AIMIM, previously aligned with BRS during its decade-long rule, has shifted its support to Congress following its electoral success in 2023.

AIMIM has opted not to run a candidate and has declared its support for Congress's Naveen Yadav, who previously ran on the AIMIM ticket in 2014 and finished as runner-up.

Following a third-place finish as an independent in 2018, Yadav joined Congress ahead of the 2023 elections.

This bye-election campaign has seen significant developments, including the induction of Mohammed Azharuddin into the state Cabinet, an action perceived as a response to criticisms regarding the lack of Muslim representation in the Cabinet, nearly two years after Congress came to power.

This move is also interpreted as an attempt to attract Muslim voters, who make up approximately 35 percent of the four lakh electorate.

BRS has labeled Azharuddin's induction as a desperate measure, asserting that the ruling party's perceived betrayal of the people regarding six guarantees and other pre-election promises will have negative repercussions in the Jubilee Hills bye-election.

The BJP has sought to capitalize on Congress's strategy to appeal to Muslim voters, even urging the Election Commission to prevent the Cabinet expansion.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's statement, "If the Congress exists, Muslims exist," sparked controversy, leading BRS and various Muslim groups to demand an apology.

The Chief Minister, who campaigned in predominantly Muslim regions alongside AIMIM leaders, clarified that his comments were taken out of context.

Azharuddin and government advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir defended the Chief Minister, suggesting his remarks were intended to emphasize Congress's historical ties and commitment to the Muslim community.

BJP leaders have heavily criticized the Chief Minister for what they perceive as "Muslim appeasement," framing the bye-election as a contest between the BJP and AIMIM.

Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay labeled Congress as a "party of Muslims," referencing the Chief Minister's comment: "Congress means Muslim. Muslims mean Congress." He accused Congress and AIMIM of attempting to transform Telangana into an "Islamic state."

Sanjay also rallied Hindus to unify as a voting bloc against Congress, BRS, and AIMIM, and ridiculed the Chief Minister for allegedly pandering to Muslim voters by wearing a skull cap, stating, "If a day comes when I must wear a skull cap for votes, I'd rather cut off my head. I'm an unapologetic Hindu."

In response to Sanjay's call for Hindu consolidation, CM Revanth Reddy challenged him to declare whether a BJP loss in the bye-election would mean that "Hindus are not with the BJP."