The primary contest appears to be between Prasanna Harikrishna of the BSP and BJP candidate Anji Reddy, Congress candidate Narendra Reddy is currently trailing in third place.
Published Feb 23, 2025 | 2:53 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 23, 2025 | 7:37 PM
People attending an election rally (X)
Synopsis: The upcoming MLC elections in Telangana will serve as a crucial test for the ruling Congress, as well as a reality check for all parties. Despite Congress’ aggressive campaign, internal challenges persist. A field study conducted by People’s Pulse in the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Graduate Constituency indicates that the primary contest appears to be between BJP and BSP.
The upcoming MLC elections in Telangana are set to be as intense as a general election. The political stakes are high since voters are directly casting their ballots in the graduate and teacher MLC elections — held after the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections but before the local body elections.
As the Congress government completes 15 months in power, the elections scheduled for 27 February are seen as a quarter-final before the upcoming local body elections.
While Congress may not officially treat these elections as a referendum on its governance, the results will inevitably escalate political tensions in the state. In politics, only the first place matters — second and third positions hold little significance.
These elections will serve as a crucial test for the ruling Congress, as well as a reality check for all parties. Social media campaigns, Zoom meetings, or financial resources alone cannot secure votes — parties must forge direct connections with the electorate to succeed.
The elections will be held for the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Graduate MLC seat, the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Teacher MLC seat, and the Khammam-Warangal-Nalgonda Teacher MLC seat.
While Congress is directly contesting the graduate constituency, the BJP has fielded candidates in all three seats. Notably, the BRS has chosen not to contest, neither directly nor indirectly, making the elections even more intriguing as political analysts speculate on which way the BRS votes will swing.
Past election results in the districts of Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, and Medak, showcased strong performances of all three major parties — Congress, BJP, and BRS.
Out of 42 Assembly constituencies in these districts, Congress won 19, BRS secured 16, and BJP claimed seven seats. In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, and Medak, while the Congress won Zaheerabad and Peddapalli.
Even though the BRS failed to win any Lok Sabha seats, it has shown little interest in the MLC elections. Given these dynamics, the elections have turned into a direct battle between Congress and BJP, with both parties eager to consolidate their hold over the region.
The Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Graduate MLC seat has traditionally been a Congress stronghold, and the party is deploying its full machinery to retain it.
Determined to win at any cost, Congress has assigned responsibilities to seven ministers and 23 MLAs. For the first time, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy himself is holding public meetings in Karimnagar, Nizamabad, and Nirmal. Party leaders aspiring for nominated positions have been given specific targets to ensure maximum voter mobilisation.
Additionally, Congress State President Mahesh Kumar Goud, who hails from Nizamabad, faces a personal challenge as this constituency falls within his home district.
Despite Congress’ aggressive campaign, internal challenges persist. The party’s BC (Backward Classes) outreach strategy is proving to be a double-edged sword.
While Congress’ promise of allocating 42 percent of tickets to BCs has gained traction, BJP is using the party’s inclusion of Muslims in the BC quota as a campaign issue against it.
Field reports suggest that Zoom meetings conducted by Congress leaders are failing to yield results. Moreover, concerns are emerging within the party about candidate Narendra Reddy’s limited engagement with grassroots workers, which could weaken Congress’ prospects.
The BJP is treating this election as an opportunity to strengthen its position in Telangana. With four BJP MPs in the region, the party is determined to secure a victory.
National general secretary Sunil Bansal is personally overseeing the campaign, and Union ministers Bandi Sanjay and Kishan Reddy, along with BJP MLAs and MPs, are actively participating.
Given that a majority of voters in the graduate constituency are from Karimnagar district, local leader Bandi Sanjay is playing a crucial role in voter mobilisation.
BJP has implemented a micro-level strategy, appointing one in-charge for every 20 voters to ensure direct outreach.
With its extensive poll management expertise, RSS support, and well-structured organisation, BJP has a significant advantage. However, internal coordination issues among leaders could pose a challenge in the final stages of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Prasanna Harikrishna, a BC leader, is mounting a strong challenge, creating a perception that Congress is attempting to defeat a BC candidate, which could alienate a key voter base.
A field study conducted by People’s Pulse in the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Graduate Constituency indicates that the election will be a major litmus test for Congress.
While the primary contest appears to be between Prasanna Harikrishna and BJP candidate Anji Reddy, Congress candidate Narendra Reddy is currently trailing in third place.
Given that both Congress and BJP candidates belong to upper-caste communities, Harikrishna is gaining traction among BC voters, positioning himself as a strong contender.
Harikrishna holds a lead in Adilabad, Asifabad, Nirmal, Karimnagar, Rajanna Sircilla, Jagtial, and Siddipet, while Anji Reddy is dominant in Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Medak, Sangareddy, and Bhupalpally.
Narendra Reddy maintains an edge in Hanumakonda. The strong support for Harikrishna in Siddipet and Rajanna Sircilla suggests that the BRS, despite its public silence, may indirectly back him. While Congress has accused BJP and BRS of having a covert understanding, field observations indicate that BRS’ primary goal is to weaken Congress.
Despite his growing popularity, Harikrishna faces challenges due to financial constraints and lack of experience in election management. In an election where resources play a crucial role, BJP and Congress candidates have a financial advantage that could impact the final outcome.
Traditionally, political parties have refrained from directly contesting Teachers’ constituency elections and prefer supporting candidates from teacher associations. However, after its victory in the Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahbubnagar Teacher MLC election in March 2023, the BJP has decided to contest both the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak and Khammam-Nalgonda-Warangal Teacher MLC elections.
Financially strong candidates have entered the fray. Congress is not contesting the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Teacher MLC election but is supporting the Left Front candidate in Khammam-Nalgonda-Warangal.
According to People’s Pulse analysis, BJP-backed candidate Malka Komaraiah, who has the support of TAPAS, is leading in multiple districts, while PRTU candidate Vanga Mahender Reddy is ahead in others. In Kamareddy, both candidates are in a close contest.
The MLC elections in Telangana are far more than routine polls — they are a crucial test for all major parties. For Congress, a victory would validate its governance, while a loss could weaken its momentum ahead of the local body elections.
For BJP, these elections present an opportunity to strengthen its base and position itself as the primary challenger to Congress. Meanwhile, the BRS’ silent but strategic manoeuvres suggest that it is keen on influencing the results without direct involvement.
As voting day approaches, political parties are ramping up their campaigns. With voter preferences shifting and unpredictable alliances forming, these elections are set to have an influence the Telangana’s evolving political landscape.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
