The Jubilee Hills by-election in Telangana has become politically significant, with all major parties viewing it as a matter of prestige.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi is determined to retain the seat, while the ruling Congress is executing aggressive strategies to secure victory. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party is still deliberating on its candidate selection.
Against this backdrop, Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s decision regarding the party’s stance in the by-poll has drawn attention.
The AIMIM’s decision to stay away from the contest is expected to benefit the Congress.
Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with Telangana TDP leaders to finalise the party’s position on the Jubilee Hills by-poll. Some leaders urged him to allow the party to contest.
However, with the TDP being a partner in the NDA alliance, uncertainty prevailed over whether it would field its own candidate or support the BJP if it decided to contest.
However, the newly appointed Telangana BJP president R. Ramachandra Rao recently made it clear that the state BJP will not enter into alliances with any party.
After internal discussions, Naidu announced that the Telugu Desam Party will not contest in the Jubilee Hills by-election. The leadership has also decided not to extend support to any party in this election.
This stand has sparked fresh political debate. However, party sources indicated that if the BJP formally seeks TDP’s support, the matter may be considered positively.
“But, if the TDP stays away from contest and doesn’t support the BJP, it would indirectly help the Congress, spearheaded by Naidu’s protégé – Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy,” an analyst said.
The TDP had also refrained from contesting the 2023 Telangana assembly elections. Its vote bank has gone to Revanth Reddy-led Congress then, too
With the BJP now preparing to enter the fray from Jubilee Hills, TDP leaders have clarified that their party has no plans to contest.
Though the TDP continues as an NDA partner at the national level and an ally of the BJP in Andhra Pradesh, it has chosen a strategic, situational approach in Telangana.
As a result, the TDP intends to act based on circumstances — maintaining its alliance with the BJP nationally and in Andhra Pradesh, but charting its own course in Telangana.
The TDP is expected to respond officially only if the BJP seeks its support in the by-election.
