If you thought the 2023 Telangana elections were the peak of political drama, the Jubilee Hills by election that just wrapped up in late 2025 proved everyone wrong. It wasn't just another local vote. Honestly, the atmosphere in Hyderabad felt more like a general election than a single-seat contest.
You had everything. High-stakes drama. A legendary cricketer getting a cabinet post. The sudden passing of a three-time MLA. And a winner who finally tasted victory after years of being the "runner-up."
The trigger: A sudden vacancy
This whole saga started with a piece of news that shocked the city on June 8, 2025. Maganti Gopinath, the BRS MLA who had held the Jubilee Hills seat since 2014, passed away. He was a powerhouse. Gopinath had won the seat three times, shifting from TDP to TRS/BRS and maintaining a tight grip on the constituency.
Because of his death, the Election Commission had to step in. They scheduled the polling for November 11, 2025. Suddenly, the posh lanes of Jubilee Hills and the crowded pockets of Borabanda were covered in party flags again.
Who were the big players?
The contest eventually boiled down to a triangular fight, though 58 people actually filed their papers. Basically, it was a battle of legacies and new momentum.
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- Naveen Yadav (Congress): This guy has been the "nearly man" of Jubilee Hills for a decade. He ran as an independent and as an AIMIM candidate in the past, always coming close but never crossing the line. This time, with the Congress ticket, he was the man to beat.
- Maganti Sunitha (BRS): The Bharat Rashtra Samithi decided to go with the sympathy factor, fielding Maganti Gopinath’s widow. It was a "do-or-die" situation for the BRS, especially after they drew a blank in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
- Deepak Reddy Lankala (BJP): The BJP wanted to prove they are the real alternative to the Congress in Telangana. They put up a strong fight, but the numbers tell a different story.
The Azharuddin factor
Here is where it gets interesting. Mohammed Azharuddin, the former Indian cricket captain, had lost to Maganti Gopinath in the 2023 main election. Most people thought he was out of the picture.
Wrong.
Just days before the Jubilee Hills by election, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy pulled a massive strategic move. He inducted Azharuddin into the Telangana Cabinet as a Minister for Minorities Welfare. This was a clear signal to the roughly 1,00,000 Muslim voters in the constituency. It worked. By bringing Azhar into the cabinet via the Legislative Council, the Congress consolidated a huge chunk of the minority vote that might have otherwise split.
Election day and the "Referendum" tag
November 11 was intense. The police didn't take any chances, identifying 226 polling stations as "critical." We saw drones hovering over Yousufguda and heavy security near the Checkpost.
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Chief Minister Revanth Reddy basically staked his reputation on this. He campaigned like his life depended on it—unusual for a sitting CM in a bypoll. He framed it as a referendum on his government’s performance.
The results: A landslide for Naveen Yadav
When the counting finished on November 14, 2025, the numbers were pretty stark. Naveen Yadav won by a massive majority of 24,729 votes. | Candidate | Party | Total Votes |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Naveen Yadav | Indian National Congress | 98,988 |
| Maganti Sunitha | BRS | 74,259 |
| Deepak Reddy | BJP | 17,061 |
Naveen secured over 50% of the total vote share. That’s a huge jump from the previous elections. It seems the combination of the "Congress Wave" and the support from the AIMIM (who didn't field a candidate this time) made the difference.
Why this matters for 2026
So, why are we still talking about this? Because 2026 is the year of the GHMC elections.
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The Jubilee Hills by election results showed that the BRS is struggling to hold onto its urban strongholds in Hyderabad. For years, the city was their fortress. Now, the Congress has a foothold in one of the most prestigious segments of the city.
If you live in Jubilee Hills or even just pass through, you’ve probably noticed the shift. The political posters have changed, but the issues—water disputes, traffic at the Jubilee Hills Checkpost, and urban infrastructure—remain the same.
What to watch for next
Now that Naveen Yadav is finally the MLA, the pressure is on him to deliver on the promises made during that "electric" campaign. The Congress government is using this win to build momentum for the upcoming municipal elections in February 2026.
For the BRS, this was a wake-up call. Losing a seat held by a veteran like Gopinath, even with a sympathy candidate, suggests they need a major strategy overhaul before the city goes to the polls again.
Keep an eye on the local ward developments in Borabanda and Rahmath Nagar. These are the areas that tipped the scale for the Congress, and they’ll likely be the first to see the "reward" of the by-election victory.
Actionable Insights:
- Monitor GHMC Updates: The 2026 municipal elections are next. Expect increased government spending in Jubilee Hills as the Congress tries to solidify this new gain.
- Verify Local Grievances: If you are a resident, now is the time to push for pending civic issues, as the new MLA is under pressure to prove the "referendum" was justified.
- Track Azharuddin’s Portfolio: As the new Minister for Minorities Welfare, Azhar’s performance will be a key factor in how the Hyderabad urban vote swings in the future.