HYDERABAD: A crucial meeting chaired by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday to finalise the Congress candidate for the Jubilee Hills byelection is learnt to have shortlisted two names and forwarded them to the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
However, sources said Revanth is keen on fielding Naveen Yadav, a Backward Class (BC) leader, in the bypoll scheduled for November 11.
The chief minister, along with TPCC chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, and ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Gaddam Vivek and Thummala Nageswara Rao — who have been tasked with overseeing the party’s campaign in the high-profile constituency — took a unanimous decision to propose two names to the party high command.
CM’s move to win over BCs
The meeting gains significance as it comes a day after Revanth’s meeting with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru on Monday. During the meeting, the two are understood to have discussed the Jubilee Hills byelection in detail.
Revanth’s reported preference for Naveen Yadav is seen as a calculated move aimed at consolidating the BC vote bank, especially in the wake of the state government’s decision to implement 42% reservation for BCs in urban and rural local body elections. Fielding a Yadav candidate could also give the party an edge in the traditionally elite yet socially diverse Jubilee Hills constituency, particularly at a time when the community feels politically marginalised.
The Congress leadership carried out multiple surveys to narrow down the list of aspirants before shortlisting two potential candidates. Constituency in-charges also submitted detailed reports to the chief minister with their recommendations. Taking these inputs into account, Revanth and other senior leaders reportedly leaned towards fielding Naveen Yadav, sources said.
Interestingly, Naveen Yadav is no stranger to Jubilee Hills. In 2018, he contested the same seat on an All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) ticket and secured a respectable 12.09% vote share, finishing third.
Political analysts believe that if Congress fields him officially, AIMIM may choose to extend support — creating a potential electoral synergy that could tilt the contest in Congress’ favour.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, Naveen Yadav had sought a Congress ticket from Jubilee Hills but was overlooked in favour of former MP and cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin.
Azharuddin, who was later nominated to the Legislative Council (MLC), is now out of contention.
Meanwhile, party sources said the Congress high command is expected to finalise the candidate within the next two to three days.
