Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sudarshan Reddy confirmed that a by-election for the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency will be held before December 2025. Addressing the media, he stated that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has already issued notifications for conducting by-elections in various vacant assembly segments across the country, and Jubilee Hills is among them.
The CEO noted that the vacancy of the Jubilee Hills seat, following the death of sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath on June 8, has been officially notified in the gazette and forwarded to the ECI. As per statutory guidelines, a bypoll must be conducted within six months of the seat being declared vacant.
Maganti Gopinath, who represented the Jubilee Hills constituency on a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) ticket, passed away due to a cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment at AIG Hospital in Hyderabad. His demise has triggered a political churn, with parties preparing for a high-stakes contest in the urban stronghold.
The BRS is reportedly strategizing to retain the seat, with indications that a member of the Maganti family may be fielded to garner sympathy and continue the political legacy. The ruling Congress, determined to secure a win in the key constituency, is considering fielding a new candidate, with names such as Vijaya Reddy, daughter of former MLA PJR, and local leader Naveen Yadav under consideration.
The BJP, emboldened by its recent performance in the Legislative Council elections, is also expected to take the contest seriously and is reportedly scouting for a strong candidate to mount a formidable challenge.
All major political parties are likely to finalize their candidates in the coming weeks, as the constituency braces for an intense electoral battle ahead of the official notification.