Congress picks Naveen Yadav for Jubilee Hills constituency bye-election

HYDERABAD: The Congress on Wednesday announced V Naveen Yadav as its candidate for the November 11 by-election to the Jubilee Hills assembly constituency.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal issued an official communication confirming Yadav’s candidature. He will face Maganti Sunitha of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to announce its candidate soon. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is unlikely to contest and may indirectly support the ruling Congress.

Bypoll necessitated after Gopinath’s death

The bypoll was necessitated by the death of three-term MLA Maganti Gopinath, whose wife Sunitha has been fielded by the BRS.

Congress focuses on BC representation

Party sources said the Congress, which has been advocating political empowerment of the backward classes, was keen to nominate a BC leader from the segment. Of the 3.98 lakh voters in Jubilee Hills, nearly 1.40 lakh belong to BC communities, making them a significant electoral bloc.