Forum for Good Governance seeks audit of ₹5.91 crore spent on Jubilee Hills bypoll
HYDERABAD: The Forum for Good Governance has written to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Telangana, seeking an audit of the expenditure incurred for the recent by-election to the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency. According to the group, the District Election Authority spent ₹5.91 crore, an amount it described as unusually high for an urban constituency.
‘No major additional requirements for conduct of poll’
In a letter dated December 5, 2025, forum president M Padmanabha Reddy said no new staff was recruited and no vehicles were purchased for the bypoll. He added that there was no movement of personnel from distant locations and that Jubilee Hills was not an extremist-affected area requiring deployment of paramilitary forces.
The forum noted that the constituency lies in the heart of Hyderabad and does not require heavy logistical spending.
Group alleges wasteful expenditure
Referring to a November 1 communication from the Finance Department, the forum said election spending appeared “more than the requirement” and needed verification. “There is a general practice that election expenditure is not audited. Here it is pointed out that expenditure was incurred more than requirement as such needs audit of accounts,” the letter stated.
‘Taxpayers’ money must be accounted for’
The forum said that while the Election Commission of India was a constitutional body, election funds came from the state government. “Taxpayer money is involved,” it said, urging the CEO to order an audit of the Jubilee Hills bypoll expenditure.
A copy of the letter was also marked to the Principal Secretary, General Administration Department, Government of Telangana.
