In Hyderabad, the counting of votes for the crucial byelection in the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency is set to commence at 8 a.m. on Friday at the Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy Indoor Stadium, Yousufguda. Early trends are anticipated by 10 a.m., with a clearer result expected by noon.
Political observers are closely scrutinizing the voting behavior, particularly in 34 booths that recorded over 60% voter turnout and 192 more that saw surpassing 50%. Areas such as Rahmathnagar, Borabanda, Erragadda, and Vengalraonagar will be pivotal in determining the election outcome.
This byelection arose following the death of incumbent BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June. His wife, Maganti Sunitha, represents BRS, while Congress has fielded V. Naveen Yadav with AIMIM’s support. The BJP candidate, Lankala Deepak Reddy, is also in the fray. A victory for Congress could bolster its urban strategy and enhance Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s standing in the region. Conversely, a loss would challenge the party’s urban outreach efforts. For BRS, a win would mark a resurgence after recent electoral setbacks in the 2023 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, whereas defeat might affect its morale further. The BJP sees this byelection as a critical opportunity to expand its foothold in Hyderabad.
Election officials, led by Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudarshan Reddy, confirmed that the counting would start with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes. The counting operation includes 42 tables to accommodate the unusually high candidate count of 59, which also includes the option for ‘None of the Above’ (Nota). The process is expected to conclude within 10 rounds of counting, with 186 officials, including supervisors and micro-observers, deployed for oversight. For transparency, real-time updates will be available on LED screens and via the Election Commission’s app.
With a total of 4,01,365 registered voters, the turnout was recorded at 48.49%, with 1,94,631 individuals casting their ballots. The polling statistics revealed varying levels of engagement across the 407 polling stations, with only four booths exceeding a 70% turnout.
Security measures are notably stringent, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 implemented around the counting center to manage crowds. Anticipation and preparations for celebrations are evident at political party headquarters, especially within the Congress, as many exit polls hint at a favorable outcome for the ruling party. TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud stated that local initiatives for celebrating potential victories are rooted in tradition, echoing a sense of optimism within the party ranks.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has expressed confidence in a victory margin of 7,000 to 15,000 votes based on the polling trends, underscoring the election’s significance as a referendum on his administration’s performance in Telangana. Regardless of the outcome, these results will likely influence the political landscape ahead of the forthcoming local body elections in December and GHMC elections in early next year, representing a critical moment for parties involved in this tightly contested race.