Hyderabad: In the run-up to the by-election in the Jubilee Hills constituency, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has come under fire for remarks made during a roadshow on 31 October. Addressing a gathering, he questioned the response of the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor, alleging the forces did not react when Pakistan attacked India, a claim swiftly labelled an insult to the armed forces by opposition leaders.
At the same event in Jubilee Hills, Reddy told voters that welfare schemes such as free bus travel for women, free electricity and ration benefits would cease if the seat were not won by his party. Many observers described this as a direct threat to voters from the head of state about the consequences of not voting for the Congress.
The remarks drew a sharp response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and from Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay, who condemned the comments as derogatory and demanded an unconditional apology.
On Twitter, Sanjay wrote: “Strongly condemn Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s below-the-belt remark on India. He stooped so low, using derogatory language to say that Pakistan kicked us and India didn’t retaliate. It’s an insult to the armed forces who courageously destroyed terror camps in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. In India, every street echoes with pride for our soldiers’ courage. Across the world, #OperationSindoor is being hailed … Chief Minister must unconditionally apologise to the people of India — and to the brave soldiers who risked their lives for our nation.”
Strongly condemn Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s below-the-belt remark on India.
He stooped so low, using derogatory language to say that Pakistan kicked us and India didn’t retaliate
It’s an insult to the armed forces who courageously destroyed terror camps in Pakistan during… pic.twitter.com/3mZhr8sdls
— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) October 31, 2025
The BJP’s Telangana unit accused the Congress of harbouring an “anti-India mindset” and claimed the comments showed the Congress mocking Operation Sindoor, which they described as the pride of Indian armed forces who “crushed Pakistan’s arrogance”.
Anti-India mindset runs deep in Congress DNA. Their CM mocks Operation Sindoor the pride of our armed forces who crushed Pakistan’s arrogance.
Such disgraceful , insensitive politics insults every soldier. Telangana stands with our forces and will soon teach Congress a lesson.… pic.twitter.com/JSdnWkTQXH
— BJP Telangana (@BJP4Telangana) October 31, 2025
The roadshow in Jubilee Hills featured Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, TPCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud, Congress candidate V. Naveen Yadav and former cricketer-turned-politician Mohd Azharuddin and several others.
Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has not fielded a candidate in the by-election; however, it has officially extended support to Congress nominee Naveen Yadav. The constituency holds significance for AIMIM as Yadav began his political journey with the party and contested Jubilee Hills on an AIMIM ticket in 2014, though unsuccessfully.
AIMIM’s support is being viewed as a strategic move in a closely fought contest where Muslim votes are expected to play a decisive role.
The Jubilee Hills by-election was necessitated by the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June 2025. The polling is scheduled for 11 November and counting will be held on 14 November. The contest has drawn 58 candidates into the fray after withdrawals, with the key contenders being Congress’s V. Naveen Yadav, BJP’s Lankala Deepak Reddy and BRS candidate Maganti Sunitha.
