Congress deploys BC powerhouse shortlist as BJP eyes celebrity edge

The lanes and bylanes of Jubilee Hills are buzzing with electoral fever as Telangana's political heavyweights gear up for a nail-biting by-election, a make-or-break clash that could redefine urban power dynamics ahead of the GHMC polls. Triggered by the sudden demise of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath due to health issues, this high-profile showdown pits Congress's grassroots surge against BJP's star-studded scramble and BRS's widow-led comeback. With the electoral roll finalized on September 30 and schedule to be out shortly, the race is on – and it's anyone's game in this constituency with 3.99 lakh voters.

In a masterstroke of inclusive strategy, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has ramped up its war machine, culminating in a high-octane review meeting led by AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan. Flanked by Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao and PCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud, Natarajan issued a battle cry: Treat this as a prestige poll, flood the streets with the Revanth Reddy government's welfare blitz, and lock in booth-level committees like fortresses. "This isn't just an election; it's a mandate for progress," she declared, urging cadres to channel the people's pulse on schemes like free bus travel and farm loan waivers.

The party's ace move? A razor-sharp shortlist of four battle-tested leaders, forwarded to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) for the green light. Headlining the pack are Naveen Yadav and Anjan Kumar Yadav, dynamic Backward Class (BC) voices with unshakeable street cred; C.N. Reddy, a senior leader; and Bonthu Rammohan, former GHMC Mayor. Guided by heavyweights like Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, Goud, and Minister Ponnam Prabhakar – who jetted off to Delhi for BC reservation talks – this lineup screams empowerment. It's Congress's bold bet on BC dominance in a diverse urban turf, blending youth, experience, and social justice swagger. Final nod from AICC Delhi is whispers-away, promising a swift announcement that could turbocharge the pink party's momentum.

BJP’s High-Stakes Hunt

Meanwhile, BJP isn't sleeping on the stakes – this is a litmus test for the new party chief N Ramchander Rao and Union Minister Kishan Reddy, whose Secunderabad Lok Sabha bastion hangs in the balance. In a swift pivot, Rao unveiled a three-man war council to sift through aspirants: ex-MLA M. Dharma Rao, former MP Pothuganti Ramulu, and senior advocate Komala Anjaneyulu. Their mandate? Hit the streets, poll local leaders and voters, and crown a winner – though insiders buzz that Reddy's veto will seal the deal.

The shortlist sizzles with intrigue: Repeat contender Lankala Deepak Reddy eyes redemption; Keerthi Reddy and Atluri Ramakrishna bring policy punch; Veerapaneni Padma adds grit. But the curveball? Veteran actress Jayasudha, whose name exploded after Ramchander Rao's recent "courtesy call" – a chat on party fortification and public service, splashed across X. With BRS fielding Maganti Sunitha, the late MLA Gopinath's widow, whispers of a women-led BJP counter grow louder. Yet, shadows loom: Ticket fever has sparked infighting, from anonymous threats to rogue social media campaigns by self-proclaimed frontrunners, leaving cadres in a tizzy.

As Jubilee Hills teeters on the edge, this bypoll isn't mere filler – it's a urban litmus test for Telangana's power trio. Congress's BC blitz could cement Revanth's renaissance; BJP's star gamble might reclaim lost glory; BRS's emotional pull tests revival chops. 

The Jubilee Hills electoral roll, finalized as on Sep 30, 2025, swells to 3,99,000 voters—a 1.61% surge from the September 2 draft of 3,92,669—bolstered by 18 service voters and 6,976 fresh additions, minus 663 deletions. It boasts 2,07,367 males, 1,91,590 females, and 25 transgender voters (ratio: 924 women per 1,000 men), plus 6,106 youth (18-19), 2,613 seniors over 80, 1,891 PwDs (including 519 visually impaired), and 95 NRIs. Polling unfolds across 407 stations at 139 sites, manned by 407 BLOs and 38 supervisors.