Hyderabad: The Congress campaign for the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election took an ugly turn on Tuesday, October 21, when two groups of party workers clashed publicly in the Rahmathnagar area. Supporters of Congress candidate Naveen Yadav and those aligned with senior leader Bhavani Shankar engaged in a heated argument that soon escalated into a physical scuffle. A video of the incident, showing workers grabbing each other’s collars and falling to the ground, has gone viral on social media, sparking embarrassment for the party amid its efforts to project unity ahead of the crucial bypoll.

According to sources, the confrontation broke out after a disagreement over campaign management and local coordination. Several party workers reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with Naveen Yadav’s candidature, claiming their preferred contenders were sidelined. Despite attempts by senior Congress leaders to pacify the groups, tempers continued to flare, disrupting the campaign proceedings in the area. The clash has highlighted the internal rifts that continue to plague the Hyderabad unit of the Congress, even as the election date draws near.

The Jubilee Hills by-election, scheduled for November 11 with counting on November 14, was necessitated following the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath. The BRS has fielded his wife, Maganti Sunitha, while BJP is represented by Deepak Reddy. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has already announced his party’s support for the Congress in this contest, which could significantly impact the final outcome. However, political observers note that such internal clashes could weaken Congress’s campaign momentum and give rival parties an advantage in this closely watched electoral battle.