Congress takes strong 15K lead in Jubilee Hills
AIMIM, under Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s leadership, threw its weight behind the Congress candidate, boosting their campaign significantly.
Hyderabad: Counting of votes for the Jubilee Hills by-election 2025 began at 8 am on Friday, November 14, marking the start of an intense day of political updates and anticipation. As counting progressed through the sixth round, the Congress candidate surged ahead with a lead of over 15,000 votes, signalling a strong possibility of the party snatching the seat from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
The entire counting exercise is being conducted at the Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy Stadium in Yousufguda, where elaborate security arrangements were put in place early in the morning. Large numbers of police personnel, along with monitoring teams and election staff, were stationed to ensure that the process proceeded without any disturbance. To maintain transparency and speed, authorities arranged 42 counting tables, and the complete counting will be carried out in 10 rounds.
Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudharshan Reddy shared that the turnout for the by-poll stood at 48.49 per cent, reflecting a moderately active participation from voters in the posh and politically important constituency of Hyderabad. A total of 1,94,631 votes were cast, including 99,771 men, 94,855 women and five others. Additionally, 101 postal ballots were received and added to the counting process.
The Jubilee Hills constituency, known for its influential and diverse voter base, has 4,01,365 eligible voters in total. This includes 2,08,561 male voters, 1,92,779 female voters, and 25 voters registered as others. The Election Commission also made special provisions for elderly citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Out of 103 absentee voters—those above 85 years of age or those with disabilities—101 successfully cast their votes through the postal ballot system.
A crowded contest with 58 candidates
The by-election attracted a surprisingly large number of contestants, with 58 candidates entering the fray. The seat fell vacant after the passing of sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath of the BRS, prompting a high-stakes electoral battle in one of the most high-profile constituencies in Telangana. While many candidates in the race are independents or from smaller parties, the main contest, as expected, has played out between the Congress and the BRS, with the BJP and AIMIM also influencing the political dynamics.
Exit polls predicted Congress advantage
Even before the counting began, several exit polls had indicated that Congress was well-positioned to wrest control of the seat from the BRS. Leading survey agencies predicted that the Congress candidate could secure 46–48 per cent of the votes, while the BRS might end up slightly behind with 41–42 per cent. The BJP, on the other hand, was projected to finish a distant third, with a modest 6–8 per cent vote share.
These predictions now seem to be aligning closely with the early counting trends, where the Congress candidate has established a significant lead. Party workers at the counting centre expressed optimism, saying the numbers not only showed confidence in the candidate but also in the Congress government’s statewide performance over recent months.
AIMIM backs Congress in a rare move
Adding a unique twist to this by-election was the position taken by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). The party, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, publicly extended support to the Congress candidate—an unusual political alignment given AIMIM’s typical rivalry with both Congress and BJP. Local observers believe this support may have helped Congress consolidate a portion of the minority vote, especially in pockets where AIMIM traditionally holds influence.
With counting continuing across the remaining rounds, political temperatures remain high in the constituency. Supporters of different parties have gathered near the stadium, awaiting moment-to-moment updates, while security teams stand alert to ensure the atmosphere remains peaceful.
As Jubilee Hills moves closer to knowing its new representative, the early lead suggests a significant shift in local politics—one that could carry symbolic weight for both Congress and BRS in the run-up to future elections in Telangana.