The alarm bells are ringing for Indian democracy, and they’re sounding loudest in Jubilee Hills. The voter turnout for the November 11, 2025 by-election, a meager 48.49%. percent, though all political made an effort to bring the voters to the booths, is not just a disappointment; it’s a disturbing phenomenon demanding immediate attention from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
As a centrally located, “high-profile” constituency within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Jubilee Hills should be a model of civic engagement. Its residents span the economic spectrum, from working-class colonies to the city’s most affluent addresses. Yet, this constituency consistently posts an embarrassingly low turnout.
A Decade of Voter Apathy
Since its carving out in the 2008 reorganization, Jubilee Hills has failed to impress at the ballot box. A look at the data highlights the downward trend: 2009: 52.77% — 2014: 56.80% (Highest ever) — 2018: 47.20% —2023: 47.58% —2025 By-election: 48.49%. With a massive electorate of over 4.01 lakh, these percentages represent a significant and worrying withdrawal from the democratic process.
The Real Estate & Relocation Factor
The core issue appears to be a-disconnect between the voter rolls and the constituency’s actual residential population. Jubilee Hills has undergone a radical transformation:
- Commercial Takeover: Nearly 95 percent of houses on the main roads have been converted into commercial spaces: corporate hospitals, business offices, shopping malls, hotels, and studios. The original residents—the voters—have moved to other constituencies while retaining their Jubilee Hills voter registration.
- Global Migration: A substantial number of affluent voters and their families have migrated to the US, Canada, the UK, and other destinations for business and job purposes, leaving their voter status dormant.
- The ‘Too Busy’ Elite: Many of the segment’s remaining residents are high-net-worth individuals, whose intense focus on their businesses appears to take precedence over casting a vote. It’s clear that the existing voter list may no longer reflect the constituency’s on-the-ground reality.
A Call for ECI Intervention
The poor turnout in a pivotal, high-value constituency like Jubilee Hills is not merely a local issue; it’s a-blight on the health of Indian democracy. The ECI must select this segment for a focused, independent study. It is time to move beyond suspicion and find concrete reasons for this chronic voter apathy. Addressing the Jubilee Hills paradox is crucial not just for one by-election, but for ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the voter rolls and democratic participation across India’s rapidly changing metropolitan centers.
Editor, Prime Post
Ravindra Seshu Amaravadi, is a senior journalist with 38 years of experience in Telugu, English news papers and electronic media. He worked in Udayam as a sub-editor and reporter. Later, he was associated with Andhra Pradesh Times, Gemini news, Deccan Chronicle, HMTV and The Hans India. Earlier, he was involved in the research work of All India Kisan Sabha on suicides of cotton farmers. In Deccan Chronicle, he exposed the problems of subabul and chilli farmers and malpractices that took place in various government departments.
