Published Feb 15, 2026 | 12:44 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 15, 2026 | 12:44 PM
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy. Credit: x.com/revanth_anumula
Synopsis: Congress has emerged dominant in Telangana’s municipal polls, winning 64 municipalities and three corporations, while BJP and BRS trail. Hung verdicts in 35 municipalities and tight battles in Karimnagar and Nizamabad make independents crucial. With indirect elections for mayors and chairpersons on 16 February, camp politics and coalition-building will decide control of urban local bodies.
The municipal verdict in Telangana has set the stage for a high-stakes political battle, shifting the action from the ballot box to the backroom.
The parties are preparing to escort their councillors and corrugators to the urban local bodies fully protected on Monday, 16 February, when the indirect election for mayors, deputy mayors, municipal chairpersons and vice-chairpersons will be held.
Elections to 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations were held on 11 February. Results declared on 14 February gave the Congress a clear edge. The grand old party secured a majority in 64 municipalities and three corporations. BRS, once the ruling force in the state, managed to win 17 municipalities. As many as 35 municipalities delivered a hung verdict.
In the corporations, Congress won Mancherial, Ramagundam, Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar. In Kothagudem, it is set to share power with its ally CPI. However, the party fell short in Karimnagar and Nizamabad, where the BJP emerged as the single largest party.
In Nizamabad, the numbers tell a tight story. The corporation has 60 divisions. Congress secured 17 seats and its ally MIM won 14, taking their combined tally to 31 — just over the majority mark. BJP won 28 seats, while BRS was reduced to one.
Karimnagar presents a tougher puzzle. Of the 66 divisions, the BJP won 30 seats. Congress secured 14, BRS nine, and AIMIM three. 10 independents hold the key. The magic figure is 35, including the ex officio vote of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar. Congress is reportedly backing an independent candidate in a bid to cut the BJP down to size.
In many of the municipalities, Congress emerged as the single largest party, but not with a clear majority. The real fight now lies in the indirect elections for mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons scheduled for 16 February. Every vote counts and every seat matters.
In this game, independents have become kingmakers. Across the state, 256 independents won ward seats. Ex-officio members — MLAs, MLCs, MPs and Rajya Sabha members registered within local body limits — also have voting rights. The Telangana State Election Commission has restricted participation to those within jurisdictional limits, adding a layer of scrutiny but not dampening political manoeuvring.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday, 15 February, directed in-charge ministers and senior leaders to ensure that hung municipalities and corporations fall into the Congress kitty. Independents are the primary target, followed by members of rival parties. The goal is clear: raise the party’s tally from 64 to 90 by capturing hung councils.
Key leaders have been assigned specific battlegrounds. Ministers Thummala Nageswara Rao, Ponnam Prabhakar and Sridhar Babu are overseeing operations in Karimnagar while N Uttam Kumar Reddy is coordinating efforts in Nizamabad. Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy is in charge at Kothagudem.
In several places, newly elected corporators and councillors have been shifted to secure camps already set up by party managers. Camp politics — a familiar Indian tactic — is in full play in Telangana. Elected representatives are being housed in resorts and guest houses to prevent poaching by rivals.
BRS, despite posting respectable ward-level numbers in some areas, has failed to cross the finish line in any of the seven corporations. Its working president, KT Rama Rao, accused Congress of misusing official power and indulging in horse-trading. Congress, however, calls it consensus-building for stable governance.
In municipalities like Jangaon and Jagtial, where no party holds a clear edge, Congress is trying to reach out to independents aggressively. Smaller players and Congress rebels who won the election are also in focus. The party believes its control of the state government gives it an upper hand, offering administrative backing and development promises to sway support.
With indirect elections due on 16 February, Telangana’s urban politics has turned into a numbers game. Ideology has taken a back seat and arithmetic rules the day.
Battle lines are drawn — and the final chapter is yet to be written.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
