A heated war of words has broken out among major political parties contesting the Jubilee Hills by-poll. Each party sees the seat as a matter of prestige. For the opposition BRS, winning is crucial since the late Maganti Gopinath earlier represented the constituency. For the ruling Congress, retaining it would reflect public confidence in their governance.
Daily political twists are keeping the race unpredictable. The Congress is battling internal disputes between ministers, which has become a setback ahead of the by-poll.
For BRS, a minor controversy over its candidate Maganti Sunitha has drawn attention, while speculation continues on whether KCR will personally campaign for the high-stakes seat.
In a fresh development, BRS has sparked criticism after inducting a known rowdy sheeter, Salman Khan, into the party. He reportedly faces 23 criminal cases, including one under the POCSO Act.
Before joining BRS, Salman Khan had filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Jubilee Hills, but it was rejected due to incomplete bank details. The next day, he was seen joining BRS, with working president KTR welcoming him by draping the party’s pink scarf.
Political analysts believe BRS is attempting to regain minority support after AIMIM, its former ally, shifted towards the ruling Congress. AIMIM chief had earlier accused the BRS government of neglecting minorities and weaker sections.
Given that Jubilee Hills has a sizeable minority population alongside its elite residents, BRS’s last-minute outreach is being widely criticised for its choice of candidate.
