Parties spend ₹100 crore on cash and gifts for Jubilee Hills bypoll
HYDERABAD: The Jubilee Hills bypoll has turned into a prestige battle between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), with both parties reportedly spending unprecedented sums to win over voters.
According to political sources, the total expenditure has crossed ₹100 crore, most of it spent on direct cash distribution. Party insiders say this is the costliest by-election in Hyderabad’s history.
Massive voter payouts
Congress and BRS functionaries have allegedly been distributing cash on a massive scale. While one party is said to have given money to nearly 70% of the voters, the other has covered about 50%. Local leaders have been managing the distribution booth-wise.
Reports suggest one party initially planned to pay ₹3,000 per vote but settled at ₹2,500. The rival side is believed to be giving ₹1,500 per voter. In areas where parties are weak, the rate has doubled up to ₹5,000 per vote in some localities.
Party workers engaged in the operation are reportedly being paid ₹10,000–₹15,000 a day, with a promise of additional rewards after polling.
Women receive cash and gifts
Cash is being handed over mainly to women, on the belief that they would ensure votes are cast as promised. A party is said to have distributed ₹500 each to members of women’s self-help groups a week earlier, in addition to the per-vote payments.
Alongside the money, gifts such as silk sarees have been distributed in large numbers. One party reportedly ordered one lakh sarees and has already distributed about half of them.
Two lakh voters targeted
The constituency has around 4.01 lakh registered voters, and the average voter turnout in past elections has been about 50%. With an estimated two lakh votes expected this time, parties have drawn up strategies to reach nearly every potential voter. One party alone is believed to have earmarked ₹50 crore for the purpose.
A senior leader was quoted as saying, “Even if half of the recipients vote for us, victory is certain.”
Complaints of partial distribution
Some voters have complained that despite widespread reports of cash handouts, they have not received any money. Locals said they waited for hours on Sunday, expecting party representatives to arrive.
It is alleged that grassroots-level leaders have siphoned off a portion of the funds meant for distribution. Candidates are reportedly worried that such diversions could hurt their prospects.
Family windfalls
In some areas, particularly Borabanda, households with multiple voters have received substantial amounts from multiple parties. One family with six votes reportedly received ₹33,000 in total ₹15,000 from one party, ₹12,000 from another and ₹6,000 from a third.
Residents said they planned to “divide their votes” proportionally among the parties that paid them.
