Hyderabad: With little over a week left for the Nov 11 bypoll, Jubilee Hills has turned into a political tug-of-war where the Muslim vote — making up over a quarter of the constituency’s electorate — is emerging as the decisive swing factor. The once predictable minority vote is now sharply divided between the Congress and the BRS, setting the stage for one of the most closely fought contests in Hyderabad’s recent political memory.A ground tour through Erragadda, Yousufguda, Borabanda, and Karmika Nagar reveals a complex mood within the Muslim community — torn between the welfare-driven promises of the Congress and the local connect of the BRS. The minority vote, which once tilted comfortably towards a single party, now appears split almost evenly down the middle. Cong banks on welfare, BRS on sentiment The ruling Congress is showcasing its welfare credentials — free RTC bus rides for women, ₹500 gas cylinders, fine rice distribution, and 200 units of free electricity — as its winning formula. The recent inclusion of Mohammed Azharuddin into the state cabinet is also being projected as a gesture of representation to reassure the Muslim community. With roughly 3.98 lakh voters in Jubilee Hills and Muslims forming nearly 25 per cent of that number, the community’s final mood could determine the outcome. While the Congress touts its welfare record and minority representation, the BRS is banking on nostalgia, emotional outreach, and anti-incumbency undercurrents.But whether these moves have truly resonated is still unclear. “Women are happy with free travel and subsidised gas,” said Afreen Begum, a resident of Karmika Nagar, “but men in our families—many of them auto drivers—feel their daily income has dipped because fewer women are hiring autos. So even within homes, opinions are divided.” The BRS, on the other hand, is banking on emotional connect and local presence. Salman Khan of Hyderabad Youth Courage, who has joined the BRS recently, has been active on the ground, especially in Yousufguda and Borabanda. BRS leaders are pitching the bypoll as the first step in a comeback journey, calling on loyalists to ‘send a message” to the Revanth Reddy govt. “During KCR’s (former CM) rule, there was no power cut and no discrimination,” argued Mohammed Ashraf Ali, 72, from Prem Nagar, Erragadda. “Now, even Ramzan tohfa has stopped. Congress promises are many, but where is the one tola gold they pledged under Shaadi Mubarak,” he questioned.National Vs regional narrative A strong undercurrent in several conversations is the national political context—particularly the fear of a growing BJP footprint. “Muslims must think beyond Telangana,” said Mohammed Taher, a contractor from Erragadda whose extended family alone has 60 votes. “Regional parties can be pressured by the BJP using CBI or ED. Only the Congress can resist them nationally. For our safety, we need Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and Revanth Reddy here,” he argued.But others disagree, seeing the BRS as the only counterweight capable of challenging Congress dominance in Telangana. “The Congress may be in power, but the BRS will return in 2028 — and Jubilee Hills will be the first sign of that,” said Dastageer Mohammed, an LIC agent from Yellareddyguda. In contrast, Shaikh Sufi, a pan shop owner in Yousufguda, claimed, “A vote for BRS is a vote for BJP—that was clear in the Lok Sabha polls.” Owaisi factor Adding to the intrigue is the AIMIM’s role, which has maintained a respectful distance so far. While the community continues to hold Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi in high regard, neither has campaigned in Jubilee Hills. Party insiders say Asaduddin is busy in Bihar, while the Congress and BRS continue to wait anxiously for an endorsement that could swing thousands of votes. Meanwhile, both camps are courting religious leaders and community organisations. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy and govt advisors have held meetings with heads of Jamat-e-Islami, Ahle Hadees, and Tablighi Jamaat, warning that “a vote for BRS is a vote for BJP.” The BRS, led by KT Rama Rao, T Harish Rao, and minority leader Shaik Abdulla Sohail, is holding counter-meetings with the same scholars, distributing pamphlets listing ‘unfulfilled promises’ of the Congress govt.
