Published Feb 17, 2026 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 17, 2026 | 8:04 AM
In the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, the BJP sprang a surprise and clinched the Mayor’s post.
Synopsis: The Congress won five corporations, the CPI secured Kothagudem and the BJP took Karimnagar after the BRS abstained at the indirect elections to mayoral and chairperson posts across seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities in Telangana on 16 February. Authorities postponed polls in 11 municipalities, including Thorrur, Jangaon and Kyathanpalli, citing a lack of quorum and rising tensions.
Strategic abstentions, tight coalition arithmetic and law and order concerns defined the indirect elections for mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons across seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities in Telangana on Monday, 16 February.
The Congress bagged the Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Mancherial and Ramagundam corporations, while the CPI won Kothagudem. The BJP wrested the Mayor’s post in Karimnagar after a see-saw battle with the Congress.
Hung verdicts in nearly 35 urban bodies meant no party had smooth sailing. Independents and ex officio members became kingmakers, pushing negotiations down to the wire.
Protests, heated arguments and scuffles marked the day. Heavy police deployment was the norm rather than the exception. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders in several towns.
Allegations of horse-trading flew thick and fast, with the BRS accusing the Congress of striking covert deals with the BJP to edge it out in closely contested bodies.
Authorities postponed elections in 11 municipalities—Yellandu, Sultanabad, Ibrahimpatnam, Kagaznagar, Kyathanpally, Khanapur, Zaheerabad, Indresham, Dornakal, Jangaon and Thorrur—citing lack of quorum, administrative snags and rising tensions.
Fresh dates will be announced soon, subject to clearance from the State Election Commission.
In the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, the BJP sprang a surprise and clinched the Mayor’s post. Kolagani Srinivas from the second division was elected Mayor with 34 votes. Y Sunil Rao from the 42nd division became Deputy Mayor.
The BJP had won 30 of the 66 divisions but fell short of a majority. It secured the remaining numbers with support from one All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) corporator, two Independents and the ex officio vote of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
The BRS, which had nine corporators, stayed away from voting. The party said the Congress changed its candidate at the eleventh hour. Its abstention tilted the scales decisively in the BJP’s favour, and a potential Congress–BRS–MIM–AIFB combine never took off.
In the Mancherial Municipal Corporation, the Congress secured the Mayor’s post. Its nominees, Dharni Madhukar and Ramya, were elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
In the Ramagundam Corporation, Congress candidate Mahankali Swamy was elected Mayor, with Pathipalli Yellaiah as Deputy Mayor.
At Kothagudem, CPI’s M Ganesh was elected Mayor, while Siripurapu Lalitha Kumari of the Congress became Deputy Mayor.
In the Mahabubnagar Municipal Corporation, Congress candidate Gumal Mamata won the Mayor’s post. M Surender Reddy of the Congress will serve as Deputy Mayor.
The Congress consolidated its position in the Nalgonda Municipal Corporation. Burri Chaitanya Srinivasa Reddy was elected Mayor and Ashraf Ali became Deputy Mayor. The corporation has 48 seats, of which the Congress won 27.
The AIFB secured three seats and extended support to the Congress. Ex officio member and Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy cast his vote for the Congress candidate, strengthening the party’s tally.
In the Nizamabad Municipal Corporation, the Congress won the mayoralty. The BJP was the single largest party with 28 seats but fell short in the mayoral vote. Congress candidate Uma Rani won with the backing of AIMIM and others. Salma Tahaseen was chosen as Deputy Mayor.
The Congress had won 17 seats and the AIMIM 14. With the support of two ex officio members and one BRS-backed vote, the Congress-led combine reached 34 votes, outmanoeuvring the BJP. The Congress–AIMIM alliance kept the BJP out of the Mayor’s office.
Thorrur Municipality turned into a political tinderbox. The BRS held nine of the 16 wards, while the Congress had seven. The ex officio votes of MLA M Yashaswini Reddy and MP Kadiam Kavya levelled the numbers at 9–9.
The BRS objected to Kavya’s dual registration as an ex officio member in both Thorrur and the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation. It lodged a complaint with the SEC.
Slogans and jostling marked the day. Congress workers allegedly assaulted Bhaskar, personal assistant to former Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao.
Officials initially denied Dayakar Rao entry, leading to sharp exchanges with them and Congress leader Jhansi Reddy. He warned of legal action if rules were bent. Police carried out a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowds.
Hundreds of personnel stood guard as the election proceeded amid chaos. The BRS staged a dharna and demanded that the chairperson’s post go to its majority candidate.
In Jangaon Municipality, a dispute centred on BRS councillor Hafiz Fatima. Police stopped her from entering the municipal hall after a complaint alleged she had been kidnapped.
She said she was present and safe, but police directed her to the station. BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy protested. Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy said proceedings should halt because she was “missing”.
After officials confirmed quorum, the election went ahead in the 30-member body, where the numbers were finely balanced.
In Kyathanpalli Municipality, officials adjourned the meeting for want of quorum. The BRS–CPI alliance had secured 14 of 22 wards, while the Congress had seven. The BRS accused the Congress of using official machinery to stall the process, but Congress leaders denied the charge. Police blocked rival groups from entering the premises.
BRS district president Balka Suman staged a sit-in and called it an insult to the voters’ mandate. Similar scenes played out in Kagaznagar, which also returned a hung verdict.
Tensions flared elsewhere. In Amangal, the BRS alleged a BJP–Congress understanding scuttled its clear majority. In Choutuppal, Congress corporators protested against Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy over the chairperson’s post. Rival factions traded barbs as tempers ran high.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
