The by-election in Jubilee Hills has turned into a tense triangular contest between the ruling Congress, the opposition BRS, and the BJP

Is the ruling Congress feeling the heat in Jubilee Hills? Will the opposition BRS gain the upper hand? These are the questions now circulating within the Congress party itself. The by-election in Jubilee Hills has turned into a tense triangular contest between the ruling Congress, the opposition BRS, and the BJP. However, internal dissent appears to be simmering within the Congress ranks. Leaders engaged in ground-level campaigning reportedly sense growing public discontent, creating anxiety in the ruling camp.

Though the Congress is pushing the ‘BC empowerment’ slogan with its candidate Naveen Yadav, uncertainty prevails over whether it will translate into votes. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, along with his Cabinet colleagues, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and senior party leaders, has deployed a large contingent of workers from various districts to intensify the campaign. Political circles note that this large-scale involvement itself reflects the ruling party’s apprehensions about adverse ground conditions in Jubilee Hills.

Revanth Reddy has been conducting roadshows and corner meetings for two consecutive days, assigning two ministers per division and placing responsibility for every 200 votes on designated coordinators. The CM plans additional roadshows and bike rallies in the coming days, while frequently holding review meetings with ministers and party in-charges. He even hosted a lunch meeting at his residence on Sunday to discuss the constituency’s strengths and weaknesses. These reviews, insiders say, indicate the Congress is grappling with tough ground realities in Jubilee Hills.

The Congress is also focusing heavily on securing Muslim and minority votes. Party sources suggest that the recent inclusion of former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin in the state Cabinet was a strategic move to attract minority voters. The decision followed criticism from the BRS that the Congress Cabinet initially lacked minority representation. Internal surveys reportedly showed Muslim voters leaning towards the Congress, prompting the leadership to act swiftly. However, despite appointing three ministers as constituency in-charges, their limited presence on the ground has raised questions within the party.

Caste-based outreach has also intensified. Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao is focusing on the Kamma community, while PCC working president Mahesh Kumar Goud, ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Vakati Srinivas, and Konda Surekha, along with senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao, are rallying support from the BC community. With Naveen Yadav belonging to a BC community, Congress leaders are pushing a strong “Vote for our BC candidate” narrative to counter weak responses to development and welfare promises. The party held special meetings on Sunday with Kapu and Munnuru Kapu groups, urging them to pledge their support.

Meetings with film industry professionals have also been conducted as part of outreach efforts. The party identified 70 localities across seven divisions with a significant Madiga voter base and assigned minister Adluri Laxman Kumar to mobilize SC voters. Citing the government’s decision on SC classification and the inclusion of Madigas in welfare schemes, Congress is planning division-wise meetings to consolidate their votes.

Meanwhile, Azharuddin’s elevation to the Cabinet has caused visible unrest in the AIMIM camp. The MIM, which initially appeared sympathetic to the Congress, is now reportedly extending indirect support to the BRS. During the 2023 Assembly elections, Azharuddin lost the Jubilee Hills seat to BRS candidate Maganti Gopinath. Following Gopinath’s demise, Azharuddin sought renomination for the bypoll, but the MIM reportedly opposed his candidature. This led the Congress to choose Naveen Yadav instead, while nominating Azharuddin as an MLC under the Governor’s quota. The MLC nomination file remains pending with the Governor.

Now, with Azharuddin being given a Cabinet berth, MIM leaders are said to be irked, prompting speculation that they may quietly back the BRS in the by-election. Political observers believe this undercurrent could significantly affect the Congress’s prospects in Jubilee Hills.