From frocks to dumbbells: Symbols spark confusion over record 58 candidates in Jubilee Hills bypoll

Hyderabad: The Jubilee Hills Assembly bye-election has turned into a contest of symbols as much as of candidates.

From fruits and frocks to CCTV cameras and chapati rollers, a total of 58 contenders will battle it out on November 11, making it the largest-ever electoral lineup in the constituency’s history.

The Election Commission on Sunday released the list of contesting candidates and their allotted symbols, revealing a mix of the familiar and the bizarre.

Symbol confusion for BRS returns

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has once again raised concerns over ‘look-alike’ election symbols. Items such as the soap dish, road roller, camera, chapati roller and ship have been allotted to other candidates, symbols that the BRS claims closely resemble its iconic car symbol.

Party leaders had earlier requested the Election Commission to freeze these symbols to avoid misleading voters. Despite that, several of them have made it to the final list, reviving confusion ahead of polling.

Unusual and eye-catching symbols flood the list

Independent candidates and smaller parties have brought a splash of novelty to the ballot. Voters in Jubilee Hills will find options featuring symbols like baby walker, dumbbells, dish antenna, room cooler, fruit basket, bangles and frock.

Look out for ‘two Naveens’

The Congress, meanwhile, faces a different kind of confusion, the presence of two candidates named Naveen, including its official nominee, Naveen Yadav.

An unprecedented crowd of contestants

The 58-candidate contest includes three nominees from major recognised parties — Congress, BRS, and BJP — along with 26 contestants from smaller parties and 29 independents.

This follows the rejection of 130 nominations, while 23 candidates withdrew their papers. The unusually high number of independents includes citizens aiming to draw attention to civic and social grievances — from HYDRAA demolition victims and Regional Ring Road (RRR) realignment protesters to farmers and unemployed youth seeking a platform for their demands.

Polling set-up: Four ballot units per booth

According to the final electoral rolls released two days ago, Jubilee Hills has 4,01,365 registered voters, comprising 2,08,561 men and 1,92,779 women, besides 2,383 new voters added after the poll notification.

Given the massive number of candidates, the Election Commission will deploy four ballot units in each polling booth, requiring larger voting compartments. District Election Officer RV Karnan said that arrangements for 407 polling stations have been finalised.

Triangular contest among key players

The bye-election was necessitated following the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath, who had retained the seat for the third consecutive term in 2023. The BRS has fielded his wife, Maganti Sunitha, in his place.

The Congress has nominated Naveen Yadav, while the BJP has once again chosen Lankala Deepak Reddy as its candidate. The AIMIM, which had finished fourth in the previous election, has decided not to contest and has extended support to the Congress.

Past results and political equations

In the 2023 Assembly elections, Gopinath polled 80,549 votes, defeating former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin of the Congress, who secured 64,212 votes. BJP’s Deepak Reddy stood third with 25,866 votes.

With AIMIM’s backing now going to the Congress and several independents entering the fray, the November 11 bye-election is expected to witness a closely watched triangular contest between the Congress, BRS, and BJP.

A colourful, crowded ballot awaits Jubilee Hills

Created in 2009 following delimitation, the Jubilee Hills constituency has never seen such a crowded contest. With a mix of heavyweights, newcomers, and issue-driven independents, and a ballot dotted with symbols ranging from baby walkers to cameras, the constituency is poised for one of Hyderabad’s most colourful electoral battles in recent memory.