- Candidate selection hinges on caste equations and community priority
Congress | Hyderabad, Sept. 18: The upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election has become a political battleground, with all major parties treating it as a high-stakes contest.
The ruling Congress party, in particular, is under pressure to secure victory in this prestigious constituency, once held by BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath, whose death has necessitated the by-poll.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has already held a review meeting with party in-charges, stressing that winning Jubilee Hills is critical for the Congress. A victory here, the party believes, will strengthen its base ahead of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections and in surrounding urban pockets.
Congress | BC or OC: The key question in candidate selection
The central question now revolves around caste equations, will the Congress allot the ticket to a BC candidate or stick with the OC community? The BRS is expected to field Maganti Sunitha, wife of the late Gopinath, banking on sympathy and the strong Kamma (OC) base. The BJP is also reportedly looking at an OC leader for the seat.
Congress, however, has been projecting its agenda of 42 percent reservation for BCs, leading to speculation that the Jubilee Hills ticket could go to a BC candidate.
Surveys are being conducted to assess community sentiment and candidate acceptance. Names such as Naveen Yadav and Anjan Kumar Yadav, both from the Yadava community, are being discussed, with Anjan already visible on the ground through flexi banners.
Former Hyderabad Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, from the Munnurukapu community, is also lobbying strongly for the seat. His wife belongs to the Yadava community, which could strengthen his claim if Congress opts for a BC nominee.
OC leaders still in contention
If the Congress decides to go with an OC candidate, Rehmat Nagar corporator CN Reddy appears to be the frontrunner. Former MP Ranjith Reddy’s name has also surfaced, though reports suggest he is seeking an MLC nomination rather than an MLA ticket.
The Congress leadership is reportedly weighing multiple surveys before finalizing its choice. Whether the ticket goes to a BC candidate in line with the party’s reservation pitch, or an OC leader to counter the BRS and BJP strategy, remains to be seen.
The decision will be crucial not just for Jubilee Hills but for the Congress’s standing in Hyderabad politics.
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