Bandi Sanjay Kumar during a meeting with Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
Credit: PTI Photo
Hyderabad: The Jubilee Hills by-poll campaign has taken a distinctly communal turn, with both major parties making overtly religious appeals to voters. After Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy declared that "Congress means Muslims, Muslims means Congress," Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar responded by calling on Hindus to unite and vote for the BJP candidate. The ruling Congress party has since approached the Election Commission seeking action against Sanjay for his communal remarks.
Addressing a corner meeting at Paramount Colony in Shaikpet division on Wednesday, Revanth Reddy reiterated that Congress is committed to the welfare of Muslims and accused the BRS of deceiving the community.
"The KCR party will merge with BJP soon. I have been a secular leader since I forayed into politics. Congress governments provided many opportunities to minorities. It was only Congress that gave big posts to minorities. Congress means Muslims and Muslims means Congress. I won the Kodangal assembly seat three times with the support of minorities. Minorities have not faced any problem during the 20 months of Congress rule in the state," said Revanth Reddy.
With nearly 1.2 lakh Muslim voters constituting a major portion of the constituency's nearly four lakh electorate, AIMIM's decision to back Congress instead of fielding its own candidate is being seen as a potential game changer in the November 11 by-poll.
AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi recently stated that while the Jubilee Hills by-poll will not directly impact the formation or survival of the current government, he appealed to voters to support Congress nominee V Naveen Yadav, describing him as a young and capable leader who could bring meaningful change to the constituency.
BJP counters with Hindu consolidation call
Responding to Revanth Reddy's remarks and Congress leaders efforts to woo Muslim voters, Bandi Sanjay at a high-decibel public rally in Borabanda on Thursday said "When I see people putting on caps to chase votes, it makes me laugh — when Revanth Reddy wears a cap, it even brings to mind actor Venu Madhav. I've seen Azharuddin standing nearby chuckle at these vote-seekers. Does chanting the Ganesh mantra magically make Azharuddin honest? If you've got the courage, take Owaisi's sisters to the Bhagyalakshmi temple, mark their foreheads and sing the hymns — do you dare? Jubilee Hills voters, give Congress and BRS a lesson: don't let them trade away 70 per cent of the votes for the sake of 30 per cent."
Bandi Sanjay appealed to Hindu voters to unite as a voting bloc and show their strength. "They've been going to Muslim homes, handing out mixers, grinders and other appliances to buy votes, while ignoring Hindu voters. There are reports that Revanth Reddy has brought in 40,000 burqas to manipulate voting; he's trying to make people wear them and cast bogus ballots. I urge the Election Commission to monitor for stolen votes. I appeal to Jubilee Hills voters: back the BJP — the party of Ram's legacy. If all 300,000 Hindu voters stand together, let's show Congress and BRS what unity looks like," he said.
Congress files complaint with EC
Arguing that appealing for votes on religious grounds violates the Model Code of Conduct (which prohibits appeals to caste or religion) and Section 123(3) of the Representation of People Act, 1951, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee's election commission coordination committee appealed to the Chief Election Commissioner to take action against Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
"In his complete speech, he urged voters many times that Hindus must vote for BJP only and Muslims can vote Congress or other parties," the complaint to the CEC stated.
The complaint added that Bandi Sanjay Kumar, being an MoS for Home Affairs, should be sacked from the ministry for provoking and seeking votes on a religious basis.
Muslims urged to ensure 100 per cent voting
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and Advisor to the Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Friday appealed to the Muslim community to recognize the power of their vote and the strength it brings to democracy.
Addressing worshippers at Masjid-e-Kaneez Fatima in Madhura Nagar, Ameerpet, before Friday prayers, he said every vote cast by a citizen carries the weight of their identity, dignity, and collective voice.
Shabbir Ali said the survival and influence of any community in a democratic system depend on its participation in elections. "Your vote is your existence. When you vote, you protect your rights, your representation, and your place in the system. If you stop voting, your strength will fade, and others will decide your future," he said, calling upon every eligible Muslim to vote responsibly in the upcoming election.
He pointed out that democracy thrives not merely on numbers but on participation. "We are nearly 13 per cent of Telangana's population, but if we do not vote, our presence does not count. A community that remains silent during elections loses its voice for the next five years," he cautioned.
Expressing concern over low voter turnout among educated Muslims and professionals in previous elections, Shabbir Ali appealed to them to ensure 100 per cent polling in their localities during the forthcoming Jubilee Hills by-election.