On Tuesday, 11 November 2025, the affluent Hyderabad constituency of Jubilee Hills in Telangana went to the polls in a high-profile by-election. The vote was triggered by the unfortunate demise of the sitting MLA, Maganti Gopinath of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), in June.
Here’s a detailed blog-style update on how things unfolded — from the campaign, the security arrangements, early turnout, to what this means for parties and voters.
Why this by-poll matters
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The electorate: About 4.01 lakh registered voters in the constituency were eligible to vote.
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Number of candidates: A whopping 58 candidates filed nominations — though the real contest centred on three major players.
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The three main contenders:
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Naveen Yadav (Congress), with backing from the (BRS) — the party seeking to hold the seat of the late Maganti Gopinath
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L. Deepak Reddy (BJP)
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Bigger political implications:
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A win for Congress would be framed as a validation of its leadership under A. Revanth Reddy (the Chief Minister) and could boost its momentum in Telangana.
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A setback could strengthen BRS’s comeback narrative, and also matter for BJP’s aspirations in urban Telangana.
Security and voting arrangements
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Polling time: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. across 407 polling stations.
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Out of these, 226 booths were flagged as “critical” given their voter composition or past history.
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Security deployment: Around 1,800 police personnel, along with CRPF units, aerial drone surveillance and web-casting at polling stations.
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Additional measures:
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Voter IDs: Electors could present one of 12 alternate photo-IDs apart from the EPIC card.
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Real-time tech: Drones were sending live feeds to a command centre.
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Technical hiccups: Several booths faced delays due to EVM glitches and power cuts. For example, Booth 30 in Shaikpet had its polling delayed.
Early voting behaviour & turnout
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By 9 a.m., the turnout stood at 9.2%.
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By 11 a.m., it had moved up to 20.76%.
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By 1 p.m., the total voter participation had reached 31.94%.
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Some local hotspots: The bastis of Yousufguda saw long queues, particularly many women turning out to vote.
Campaign highlights & allegations
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Both BRS and Congress lodged complaints and counter-complaints:
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BRS accused Congress of distributing cash, liquor, gifts (like sarees and mixers) to influence voters.
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Congress was alleged to have brought in non-local MLAs/MLCs into the constituency in violation of election rules.
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Booth-level agents (BLAs) were in high demand: Parties were scrambling to secure reliable agents at each polling station; some party workers reported pressure and intimidation.
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The chief minister directed his ministers to remain in Hyderabad and monitor the polling process actively.
Voter turnout trends & demographic notes
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A noteworthy point: Muslim voters (estimated at around 1 lakh) were expected to be a key influence in the outcome.
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First-time voters (18-19 years old) were specifically targeted through awareness campaigns.
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Women’s participation: The long queues in Yousufguda’s bastis indicated strong turnout among women voters by midday.
What to watch for in the results
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Given the nature of the contest, the result will be seen as a referendum on the governing party’s performance in urban/elite-constituency settings.
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A narrow margin or surprise victory could have ripple effects across Telangana’s political landscape ahead of future state elections.
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Also worth noting: how much the BJP can carve out space in a constituency that has been under regional party dominance.
Final thoughts
The by-poll in Jubilee Hills promises to be more than just a local contest — it has become a litmus test for political momentum in Telangana. With high security, intense campaigning, a large voter base, and allegations flying from all sides, today’s result will be analysed closely. For voters, the turnout so far suggests growing engagement; for parties, the focus will be on mobilising their core bases and ensuring the last mile execution at booths.
Reviewed by Aparna Decors
on
November 11, 2025
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