CM Revanth Reddy's statement in the Jubilee Hills by-election has intensified the political slugfest. AIMIM has extended support to Congress, while BJP has termed it as politics of appeasement. The Muslim voting pattern will play a decisive role in this election.
Jubilee Hills By Election: The politics of Telangana is currently abuzz regarding the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election. A statement made by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy during this by-election has become a subject of discussion not only across the state but also at the national level. During his campaign, he made a statement that completely altered the electoral atmosphere. Revanth Reddy stated that 'Congress means Muslims, and Muslims mean Congress'.
Political Significance of Jubilee Hills Seat
The Jubilee Hills Assembly seat became vacant after the demise of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath. Currently, 58 candidates are contesting this seat. The main contest is considered to be among three candidates: BRS's Maganti Sunitha, Congress's Naveen Yadav, and BJP's Lankala Deepak Reddy. A significant aspect of this seat is that the number of Muslim voters here is approximately 1.4 lakh. This means the election outcome will largely depend on which party Muslim votes consolidate for. AIMIM has already declared its support for the Congress candidate.
Why the Controversial Statement Was Made
A clear electoral strategy is apparent behind CM Revanth Reddy's statement. Congress fears that Muslim votes might split among BRS, AIMIM, and other independent candidates. If this happens, BJP could gain an unexpected advantage. Therefore, the Chief Minister publicly conveyed the message that Congress is the party that truly represents the Muslim community. His objective was for Muslim voters to solidly cast their votes in favor of the Congress candidate and to prevent their vote bank from being divided.
Significant Impact of AIMIM's Support
The support extended by Asaduddin Owaisi's party, AIMIM, to Congress is considered a decisive turning point in this by-election. The direct implication of AIMIM's support was that Muslim votes could swing towards Congress. To further strengthen this political situation, CM Revanth Reddy powerfully delivered his message from the election platform. He attempted to demonstrate that Congress alone protects the rights of minorities and their political space.
BJP's Allegations
BJP termed the CM's statement as politics of Muslim appeasement. BJP leaders alleged that Congress is using religion to win elections. They stated that Congress's sole objective is to consolidate Muslim votes en masse in its favor. BJP views this as an opportunity to rally Hindu voters to its side. Meanwhile, CM Revanth Reddy retaliated against BJP, stating that BJP always engages in divisive politics between communities.
Criticism from Within Congress
Interestingly, this statement was not only criticized by the opposition but also by senior Congress Muslim leader Abid Rasool Khan, who called it incorrect. Khan stated that saying Congress is nothing without Muslims is akin to belittling the minority community. He added that the Chief Minister should avoid such statements that send a wrong message to society. He also demanded an apology from the CM for this statement. However, CM Revanth Reddy later clarified that his statement was distorted and his intention was merely to seek support.
The Jubilee Hills by-election is not just about one seat for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Congress. This seat is also linked to the government's popularity, identity, and political stability. If Congress loses this seat, it will raise questions about the CM's leadership abilities and provide a significant issue for the opposition. For this very reason, CM Revanth Reddy wants to ensure that the entire vote bank stands firmly in favor of Congress.
