Jubilee Hills By Poll: Sunitha Maganti In the Race?

Political buzz is building around the upcoming by-election for the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency in Telangana. This election became necessary following the passing of three-time BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath. Gopinath had first won the seat in 2014 on a TDP ticket before joining BRS, wher e he secured back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2023. Even during the Congress wave in the last election, he managed to retain his seat.

Now, with the Election Commission expected to schedule a by-election within six months, attention has shifted to who will contest from BRS. Given the tradition of nominating a deceased leader’s family member in by-elections, party insiders suggest that Gopinath’s wife, Sunitha Maganti, could be considered. Her potential candidature is being viewed as a combination of sympathy and social community advantage. Reports indicate that BRS working president KTR is inclined to back her, as the party aims to retain this key seat and send a strong political message amid growing anti-incumbency against the ruling Congress.

However, Sunitha may not be the only contender within the party. Former MLA Vishnuvardhan Reddy, the son of senior Congress leader and ex-minister P Janardhan Reddy, is reportedly eyeing the BRS ticket as well. With deep roots in the constituency, especially in bastis and among minority communities, his name is also in circulation.

Another aspirant is Ravula Sridhar Reddy, who had earlier contested from BJP and later served as the chairman of Telangana Education Infrastructure Corporation. Though he was unsuccessful in the 2019 Parliament elections, he remains hopeful for the Jubilee Hills ticket from BRS.

As the party leadership evaluates these options, the final call may rest on who KTR sees as best positioned to retain the seat for BRS. Whether sympathy, legacy, or grassroots connect will guide the decision is something political circles are keenly watching.