Hyderabad : The Supreme Court ’s decision upholding the disqualification of Danam Nagender has set the stage for one of Telangana ’s most closely watched electoral battles, with the Congress , BRS and BJP preparing for a high-stakes by-election that could shape the political narrative ahead of the crucial civic polls in Greater Hyderabad.
Danam first contested from the segment in 2009 and has remained a dominant political figure in its electoral landscape ever since. Because all three parties have enjoyed success here since the 2009 delimitation exercise, the constituency holds particular significance. The earlier by-elections were necessitated by the deaths of sitting BRS legislators and were won by the Congress.
Political analysts point out that, unlike the recent bypolls in Secunderabad Cantonment and Jubilee Hills, the Khairatabad by-election is unfolding under entirely different circumstances.
Leaders frequently point to the party’s strong performance in the 2023 Assembly election, when it won a significant number of seats across Greater Hyderabad. The BJP, which won Khairaatabad in 2014 through Chintala Ramachandra Reddy, sees the by-election as an opportunity to regain lost ground in the constituency. The Congress is banking heavily on the state govt‘s developmental agenda and welfare initiatives undertaken over the past two years. The party is also expected to rely on the personal influence of Danam, who remains one of the strongest political figures in the constituency. The BRS, meanwhile, is projecting confidence and believes growing public dissatisfaction with the Congress govt could work to its advantage. Party leaders contend that issues relating to civic infrastructure, water supply, power shortages, and political defections have generated resentment among voters. The BRS is also banking on its record in Hyderabad, arguing that much of the city’s infrastructure growth occurred during its regime. Party leaders believe anti-incumbency against both the Congress and BRS, coupled with the BJP’s organisational strength, could help it emerge as a serious contender. BJP state president N Ramchander Rao has maintained that voters now view the BJP as the only viable alternative to the Congress and BRS. Significantly, BJP MLA Alleti Maheshwar Reddy was among those who pursued the disqualification issue by filing a petition against Danam over defection.