Congress Consolidates Urban Power in Telangana, Wins Control of Majority Municipal Bodies

Hyderabad, Feb 2026 : The ruling Indian National Congress further strengthened its grip on urban local bodies in Telangana on Monday, capturing power in 84 out of 105 municipalities and six of the seven municipal corporations where elections to key posts were held. The results underlined the party’s expanding influence at the grassroots level, even as opposition parties managed to carve out limited pockets of control through alliances and tactical support.

Although elections to 116 municipalities were conducted on February 11 and results were declared two days later, the election of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons could not be completed in 11 municipalities due to procedural and political complications. Despite these delays, the overall picture clearly favoured the Congress, which succeeded in converting its numerical strength into leadership positions across most urban bodies.

The principal opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) managed to take control of 17 municipalities, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could secure just one municipality on its own. Independent candidates emerged victorious as chairpersons in three municipalities, highlighting the fragmented political equations in several urban centres.

Though the Congress had secured an outright majority in 66 municipalities, it went on to capture leadership positions in another 18 municipalities with the support of other parties and Independent councillors. This ability to build post-poll alliances proved crucial in consolidating its dominance. In two municipalities, the Congress even formed arrangements with the BJP, reflecting the fluid and pragmatic nature of local-level politics.

In Medak district’s Narsapur municipality, the BJP extended support to the Congress candidate for the chairperson’s post, while the ruling party reciprocated by ensuring the election of a BJP councillor as vice-chairperson. A similar understanding was reached between the two parties in Aliyabad municipality in Medchal Malkajgiri district.

The BRS, too, entered into selective alliances. In Rangareddy district’s Amangal municipality, the BRS secured the chairperson’s post with BJP support, while backing the BJP candidate for vice-chairperson. These cross-party arrangements emerged largely because the elections resulted in as many as 34 hung municipalities, where no single party had a clear majority.

At the municipal corporation level, the Congress delivered a strong performance. Out of the seven corporations where elections were held, the party won both the mayor and deputy mayor posts in four — Mahabubnagar, Mancherial, Nalgonda and Ramagundam — further cementing its urban footprint.

In Kothagudem Municipal Corporation, Mood Ganesh of the Communist Party of India (CPI), an ally of the Congress, was elected Mayor, while S. Lalitha Kumar of the Congress became Deputy Mayor. The result reflected the close contest in the 60-member corporation, where the Congress and CPI alliance managed to prevail despite both the Congress and BJP winning 22 seats each.

In Nizamabad Municipal Corporation, the Congress succeeded in blocking the BJP’s bid for power despite the latter emerging as the single largest party. Congress councillor K. Uma Rani was elected Mayor with the support of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), while AIMIM’s Salma Tahseen was elected Deputy Mayor.

However, the Congress could not prevent a setback in Karimnagar Municipal Corporation. There, the BJP, which had won 30 of the 66 divisions, comfortably captured both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts with the backing of a few Independent corporators.

In Adilabad municipality, Independent councillor Bandari Anusha was elected Chairperson, with AIMIM’s Mohammad Rohith becoming Vice-Chairperson. Interestingly, although the BJP had emerged as the single largest party with 21 seats in the 49-member body, a broad coalition of Congress, BRS, AIMIM and four Independents rallied behind the Independent candidate to keep the BJP out of power. Independents also secured both key posts in Bhainsa municipality.

Meanwhile, elections to the posts of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons in Yellandu, Sultanabad, Ibrahimpatnam, Kagaznagar, Ketanapally, Khanapur, Zaheerabad, Inderesham, Dornakal, Jangaon and Thorrur municipalities were postponed by election authorities.

The process across the state began with newly elected councillors and corporators taking oath, followed by the election of mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons. The otherwise orderly proceedings were marred by sporadic clashes between Congress and BRS supporters at a few locations.

Overall, the results marked a significant consolidation of power for the Congress in Telangana’s urban landscape, while also underscoring the complex alliance politics that continue to shape local governance in the state.

Winning Details of Municipal Bodies in Telangana

*Includes CPI (Congress ally) and AIMIM-supported candidates.

Municipal Corporation–Wise Results