The curious case of the BJP’s silence in Jubilee Hills

Sections of the BJP are reportedly favouring the Congress in the Jubilee Hills by-election by maintaining a low-profile campaign. The strategy, seen as a bid to weaken the BRS, has left many leaders quietly supporting the Congress to split opposition votes

Hyderabad: In a twist few could have imagined, sections of the BJP appear to be quietly rooting for the Congress in the high-stakes Jubilee Hills by-election. The BJP’s silence is said to be a deliberate and calculated move to weaken the BRS, which remains its primary regional rival, even if it means propping up the Congress in the short term.

From the word go, the BJP’s campaign has been surprisingly lethargic. The candidature of Lankala Deepak Reddy was finalised at the last minute, just two weeks ago. Ground activity has remained minimal, and even senior leaders seem more interested in watching the Congress wrest the seat from the BRS than in winning it themselves.

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It is widely accepted that the Jubilee Hills bypoll remains a fight between the BRS and the Congress. Several pre-poll surveys have confirmed this by indicating a close fight between both these parties, with the BJP struggling to cross even the 10 per cent mark. Surveys suggested that the BRS continues to enjoy a significant lead among Muslim voters, with anti-incumbency beginning to hurt the ruling party.

Under these circumstances, sources revealed that sections of the BJP reportedly suggested taking a backseat to strengthen the Congress and weaken the BRS. Certain senior BJP leaders, who are said to be maintaining warm ties with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, claimed it was a strategic move, arguing that it would be easier for them to wrest the constituency from the Congress rather than the BRS, which has turned Jubilee Hills into its bastion.

Adding weight to this argument, several BJP senior leaders have refrained from campaigning altogether, and those who participated for formality excused themselves after a couple of days on the ground. Only BJP State president N Ramchander Rao could be seen accompanying the candidate most of the time.

Further, instead of the ruling Congress, BJP leaders were largely seen targeting the BRS, which has been in the opposition for the last two years. If the Congress does scrape through, it may owe as much to the BJP’s quiet cooperation as to its own campaign.