The Jubilee Hills by-election was triggered by the sudden passing of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath. This election matters deeply — it’s seen as a test for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who has completed two years in office.
For BRS, it’s equally critical. Losing its sitting seat would raise questions about its relevance. The party nominated Maganti Gopinath’s wife, Maganti Sunitha, as its candidate. Congress chose Naveen Yadav, a strong local face. Sunitha began her campaign, but things quickly took an unexpected turn.
Former MLA and PJR’s son, Vishnuvardhan Reddy, also filed his nomination from BRS. His move has stirred intense discussion in political circles. There was no real need for him to file as a dummy candidate. That role could have been taken by a family member of Sunitha.
This step has fueled talk that Sunitha is struggling to pose a tough fight against Naveen Yadav. Vishnuvardhan Reddy has his own cadre and enjoys goodwill as PJR’s son. Insiders believe BRS views him as a better match to counter Naveen Yadav’s strong image.
Now, there’s growing speculation that BRS might pull a last-minute surprise by issuing the B-Form in Vishnuvardhan Reddy’s name. Whether that change happens or not, the damage is already done. The party’s mixed signals have weakened Sunitha’s position publicly.
By allowing two nominations, BRS has shown internal confusion about its own candidate. The deadline to withdraw nominations for the Jubilee Hills by-election is October 23, so the final picture will be clear soon.
If BRS fails to retain this seat, the setback will hurt its cadre morale right before the local body elections. More importantly, it will strengthen Revanth Reddy’s image within the Congress.
