Published Feb 04, 2026 | 10:46 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 04, 2026 | 10:46 AM
Congress leaders during a poll rally in Telangana.
Synopsis: Ahead of the municipal elections in Telangana, an internal tussle is expected to split Congress votes. In a bid to keep the rebel problem at bay, Congress leaders deliberately delayed issuing B-Forms until the very last hours before the withdrawal deadline. However, it did not solve the issue as several rebels refused to withdraw nominations.
The scramble for Congress B-Forms, the all-important authorisation certificate that allows candidates to contest on the party symbol, set off high political drama across Telangana ahead of the 11 February municipal elections in the state.
The exercise ripped the lid off the deep-rooted factions which are in perpetual conflict in the ruling party, with the result of a possible split of Congress votes becoming a certainty
Despite frantic, last-minute firefighting by the party leadership to placate disgruntled aspirants, a sizeable block of rebels dug in their heels. Many refused to back down, and their defiance now threatens to blunt Congress’s electoral advantage in crucial municipalities.
The municipal polls span 2,996 wards across seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities. After the 3 February deadline for withdrawals, a staggering 6,701 candidates stepped out of the race, bringing down the total number of contestants to 12,993.
In a bid to keep the rebel problem at bay, Congress leaders deliberately delayed issuing B-Forms until the very last hours before the withdrawal deadline. The gamble was meant to box in dissidents. Instead, it delivered mixed results. In many wards, rival aspirants had already filed nominations. This followed alleged assurances by local satraps who promised tickets to more than one claimant.
The fallout, as expected, was swift and ugly. Protests erupted, emotions ran high and heated confrontations spilt onto the streets.
If there was a red-hot flashpoint, it was Jagtial. Bitter infighting between sitting MLA Dr M Sanjay Kumar — who defected to Congress from BRS — and former minister T Jeevan Reddy plunged the local Congress unit into turmoil. The party appeared to be at war with itself.
Uncertainty over B-Form distribution dragged on well into the evening. Party cadres split into rival camps, with one standing firmly with Sanjay Kumar while the other rallied behind Jeevan Reddy.
Supporters of both leaders went ahead and filed nomination papers. Several rebels publicly declared they would contest as independents if denied tickets — a move that could tear into Congress’s vote base.
In the middle of blistering arguments, Jeevan Reddy was reportedly heard hurling unparliamentary remarks at the MLA. The situation spiralled out of control. One aspirant collapsed and fainted amid the chaos, and another took the protest to a shocking extreme. He poured kerosene over himself, threatening self-immolation over the denial of a ticket.
Party insiders said Jeevan Reddy’s camp managed to secure around 20 tickets. Sanjay Kumar’s group, they claimed, bagged close to 30. The imbalance only deepened the bitterness.
Jeevan Reddy later alleged that the elections had turned into a battle between “genuine Congress leaders” and those who had “migrated from other parties.” He vowed to take the issue to All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader Rahul Gandhi.
The tension showed no signs of easing. Metpally town women’s wing president Haritha broke down in tears at Jeevan Reddy’s residence after her ticket was denied. She said she had worked tirelessly at the grassroots for five years. She accused the leadership of sidelining loyal workers while favouring others.
In a telling act of protest, one supporter of Jeevan Reddy — despite having secured a B-Form — chose to withdraw from the race. He cited injustice meted out to the former minister’s camp.
In Gadwal, supporters of MLA Krishna Mohan Reddy — who defected to Congress from BRS — locked horns with those backing Congress leader Saritha. Verbal duels broke out. While Reddy distributed B-Forms to his chosen candidates, at least seven Saritha-backed aspirants refused to withdraw. They stayed in the fray, defying party pressure.
In Armoor in Nizamabad district, four senior Congress leaders who were denied tickets remained as rebels in the fray, flouting party instructions. Senior leaders privately admitted that convincing rebels even to formally withdraw had become an uphill task.
In Raikal town, Youth Congress President Nagaraju and women’s wing president T Mamata resigned in protest. They alleged that defectors from the BRS were being given undue priority. Karimnagar, too, witnessed protests as ticket aspirants vented their anger over allocations.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy convened a high-level meeting with ministers, MPs, and MLAs and asked them to reach out to rebels and rally support behind official candidates.
He also issued a clear warning that defiance would invite strict disciplinary action. The chief minister set an ambitious target of winning the majority of urban local bodies, calling the municipal polls “prestigious” for the party.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President B Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, and senior leader Mallu Ravi kept a close watch on developments. Party leaders claimed that most disputes had been resolved, but ground reports, however, suggested otherwise. Rebels remained dug in across several pockets.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
