Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election on Tuesday recorded a marginally increased voter turnout, but the day was marred by EVM malfunctions, political clashes, widespread allegations of massive rigging and illegal cash distribution.
Amid several Model Code of Conduct (MCC) breaches, the Election Commission (EC) ordered action against several Congress leaders, with the police registering cases, including against three sitting Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
By 5 pm, Jubilee Hills had registered a turnout of 47.16 per cent, which, although slightly higher than the 2023 Assembly election figure, was the lowest among all constituencies undergoing by-elections across the country on the day. Officials confirmed that voting ended at 6 pm, with all voters already in the queues permitted to cast their votes.
Voting commenced at 7 am across 407 polling stations but was briefly disrupted at nine booths due to technical snags. The affected areas included Borabanda, Rahmatnagar, Vengalrao Nagar, and Shaikpet. Polling was halted for over an hour at Booth No. 348 in Borabanda, while issues at Booths 165 and 166 (Rahmatnagar) and Booth 30 (Shaikpet) also caused delays. District Election Officer R V Karnan assured the media that all technical issues were swiftly rectified and that voting had resumed smoothly.
Despite the appeal from BRS candidate Maganti Sunitha to citizens to exercise their franchise, the day quickly escalated with frequent clashes and accusations of political misconduct. A BRS worker was allegedly assaulted by Congress leader Baba Fasiuddin at the Borabanda booth, which triggered protests. Condemning the incident, Ms Sunitha accused the police of acting as ‘agents of the Congress’ and failing to ensure free and fair polling.
“The ruling party is using rowdy sheeters and outsiders to threaten voters. If this continues, we will be forced to respond politically,” she warned.
The BRS lodged a series of complaints with the EC, primarily accusing the Congress of distributing cash to influence voters, particularly near Booth No. 203 in Vengalrao Nagar. BRS leaders claimed Congress workers were caught red-handed offering money, a violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. They alleged police inaction and demanded the suspension of errant officers and the immediate deployment of central forces.
Tension flared further after BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan alleged bogus voting at Al Falah School in Diamond Hills Colony, Shaikpet. He claimed that Congress leaders were bringing women in burqas from outside the area to cast fake votes without proper voter IDs. “This is not an election but a mockery of democracy,” Mr Sravan asserted, blaming election officials and police for ‘silent complicity’.
Earlier, Maganti Sunitha staged a protest near the Krishna Nagar booth, alleging that Congress supporters were casting fake votes using altered photo identity cards, including voting in the names of deceased persons. BRS workers claimed to have apprehended several women attempting to vote with forged IDs at Amaravati School in Srinagar Colony, while others fled when challenged.
Ms Sunitha also alleged that Congress candidate Naveen Yadav had deployed known rowdy sheeters to intimidate voters and BRS agents, further claiming that they were distributing biryani packets and ₹5,000 cash to buy votes while the police silently observed.
The Election Commission took serious note of reports that non-local Congress MLAs and MLCs were moving around the constituency in a bid to influence voters. Those named included Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, along with MLAs Beerla Ilaiah and Ramachandra Naik, and MLC Shankar Naik.
Following the EC’s directive, the police registered three First Information Reports (FIRs): two at Madhuranagar Police Station and one at Borabanda, against Congress MLAs Beerla Ilaiah, Ramachandra Nayak, and Ramdas Maloth. A separate case was filed at Borabanda Police Station against former BRS MLAs Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar and Methuku Anand.
Later in the afternoon, a scuffle broke out at Apex High School in Samatha Colony, Shaikpet, when a group of Congress workers blocked Dasoju Sravan and RS Praveen Kumar from reviewing the polling process. The police intervened, using a mild lathi charge to disperse the groups, and additional forces were deployed.
A BRS delegation, led by former MLA Bollam Mallaiah Yadav, submitted multiple complaints to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Telangana, alleging large-scale poll malpractices by the Congress, accusing the ruling party of resorting to ‘systematic hooliganism’ out of fear of defeat. He stated that "More than 60 complaints have been filed with the EC against Congress leaders for violating poll norms.”
Chief Electoral Officer C Sudarshan Reddy confirmed that he had taken serious note of the violations, had directed officials to ensure strict enforcement of the MCC, and had deployed paramilitary forces in sensitive locations. The authorities monitored polling through drone surveillance and live webcasting across 139 sensitive areas.
The counting of votes is scheduled for November 14.
Also read: KTR urges voters to back BRS in Jubilee Hills bypoll
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