done: arun Hyderabad: With over one lakh Muslim voters in the Jubilee Hills onstituency—who are likely to play a decisive role in the upcoming bypolls—both the ruling Congress and BRS are actively courting the minority community. According to caste surveys and various studies, Muslims constitute nearly 30% of the total electorate in the constituency, making their support crucial for any party aiming to secure a win. Jubilee Hills ranks just behind seven other assembly segments in the state in terms of Muslim population, all of which are represented by AIMIM MLAs. Bahadurpura tops the list with about 87% Muslim voters, followed by Nampally at 55%. Jubilee Hills, with approximately 30%, comes next. Among the six municipal divisions in the constituency, AIMIM had earlier won Shaikpet and Erragadda, though these seats are now vacant due to the deaths of the corporators. Other divisions like Yousufguda, Borabanda, and Rahmatnagar also have substantial Muslim populations. Notably, Borabanda went to AIMIM in the previous GHMC elections, highlighting pockets of strong influence. The uncertainty over whether AIMIM will field a candidate in the bypoll has added to the political calculation, with both Congress and BRS hoping to capture the party’s vote share if it stays out. Party insiders believe this could significantly shape the outcome. The Congress has taken proactive measures to win over Muslim voters, sanctioning developmental works and allocating land for Muslim graveyards in Erragadda and Shaikpet to address the acute shortage of burial space in Bharatnagar, Erragadda, and HF Nagar. While there was a dispute over Shaikpet land due to defence objections, the party has also pledged further development in minority colonies. Key minority leaders, including Telangana Waqf Board chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini and Borabanda corporator Baba Fasiuddin, have been roped in to engage voters and local leaders directly. Meanwhile, the BRS is intensifying efforts to maintain its support base among Muslims. Party leaders point to continued backing from the local community during the 2023 assembly elections, even when AIMIM contested. A senior BRS leader highlighted welfare schemes such as Shaadi Mubarak and other minority-focused initiatives, expressing confidence that Muslim voters will continue to support them. Political analysts note shifting voting patterns in the constituency. While Muslim voters largely supported BRS in previous assembly polls, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw them lean towards the Congress. “Although Union minister G Kishan Reddy won Secunderabad in 2024, Congress outperformed BJP in Nampally and Jubilee Hills assembly segments,” pointed out a senior AIMIM leader. As the bypoll approaches, both parties are leaving no stone unturned, recognising that the support of Jubilee Hills’ significant Muslim minority could well tip the scales, making the constituency one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in Telangana.
