Hyderabad Congress opens IS Sadan office in Yakutpura to break ‘political hegemony’ in Old City
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, noting that over 70 per cent of the Old City’s population is already benefiting from free bus travel for women, new ration cards and fine rice distribution.
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: In a move to dismantle the political inertia in the Old City, the Hyderabad District Congress Committee (DCC) President, Syed Khalid Saifullah, officially inaugurated the IS Sadan Division office in the Saidabad area on Friday.
This marks the beginning of a massive organisational restructuring aimed at re-establishing the party’s presence in the historical heart of the city.
GHMC elections
The inauguration saw the presence of the Yakutpura Assembly constituency in-charge K Ravi Raj, alongside senior leaders Bheem Arjun Reddy, Kotla Srinivas and Krishna Kumar. The event is widely viewed as an ‘opening gambit’ for the Congress as it prepares for the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.
Addressing a gathering of energised supporters, Khalid Saifullah—a tech-entrepreneur-turned-
“Our focus is clear: we want to reconnect with the people of the Old City at the grassroots level,” Khalid stated. “For too long, these areas have been historically neglected. We are here to ensure their voices are represented in governance.”
Benefits to Old City
Khalid credited the ‘growing enthusiasm’ for the party to the welfare schemes led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, noting that over 70 per cent of the Old City’s population is already benefiting from free bus travel for women, new ration cards and fine rice distribution.
He also highlighted the government’s commitment to the long-delayed Old City Metro Rail project as a turning point for public confidence.
With thousands of applications already submitted for various party posts, the Congress appears set on transforming its image from a ‘silent observer’ to a ‘formidable contender’ in the Old City.
Why is the office being opened in the Old City?
The opening of the IS Sadan office is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is a calculated response to three major political and socio-economic shifts in Hyderabad:
1. Breaking the ‘Political Hegemony’
For decades, the Old City of Hyderabad (encompassing constituencies like Yakutpura, Charminar and Bahadurpura) has been the stronghold of the AIMIM, with the BRS previously holding significant influence through an informal alliance. By setting up physical offices in every ward, the Congress is attempting to provide an alternative local leadership. They are shifting from ‘election-only’ mode to a 24/7 grassroots presence to win back a demographic that once formed their core base before 2014.
2. Capitalising on Infrastructure and Welfare
Under CM Revanth Reddy, the Congress government has made a strategic push to include the Old City in its flagship ‘Global City’ vision. This includes:
- The Metro Rail Extension: Fast-tracking the Metro to the Old City is a powerful campaign tool to show that development is no longer restricted to the ‘Cyberabad’ (Western) side of the city.
- Welfare Saturation: By highlighting that 70 per cent of the local population uses ‘free bus travel’ and ‘free electricity’ (under the Six Guarantees), the party is trying to prove that their governance provides tangible financial relief that past representatives could not.
3. Preparation for the 2026 GHMC Restructuring
There are strong indications that the GHMC may be split into three separate corporations (Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri) post-February 2026.
If the ‘Hyderabad’ corporation becomes its own entity, the Old City wards will hold even higher electoral weight. The Congress is ‘future-proofing’ its organisation by ensuring it has a functional office and a designated leader in every ward before the new boundaries and election dates are announced.
4. Leadership Transition
The appointment of Syed Khalid Saifullah—a data expert with a background in global IT firms like Google and Dell—signals a shift in the Congress’s strategy.
By using data-driven analytics to identify ‘neglected pockets’ and professionalising the party’s application process, the Congress is trying to appeal to the younger, tech-savvy, and aspirational voters of the Old City who are tired of traditional ‘gully politics.’
