Telangana Congress Expands Municipal Grip Amid Turmoil, Draws and Political Showdowns

Hyderabad, Feb 2026 : Telangana’s ruling Indian National Congress further consolidated its position in urban local bodies on Tuesday by capturing power in seven additional municipalities, even as the process was marred by chaos, clashes, and repeated postponements. The main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) managed to secure control of only one municipality, highlighting the Congress party’s growing dominance in the state’s civic landscape.

Elections to the posts of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons in several municipalities have been anything but smooth. In at least three urban local bodies, the process had to be postponed once again due to a lack of quorum and intense clashes between cadres of the Congress and the BRS. Monday’s attempts to conduct elections had already failed in multiple locations owing to violence and procedural disruptions, and Tuesday witnessed a repeat of the turmoil.

Tension ran especially high in the Janagaon and Thorrur municipalities of the undivided Warangal district, where supporters of the rival parties confronted each other. In both these municipalities, the elections ended in a tie, forcing authorities to invoke the provision of a draw of lots to determine the winner. Fortune favoured the Congress in both cases, a development that further inflamed tempers among BRS leaders and workers.

Apart from these dramatic contests, the Congress registered relatively comfortable victories in Yellandu, Sultanabad, Dornakal and Zaheerabad municipalities. It also succeeded in capturing Kagaznagar municipality with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BRS, meanwhile, managed to take control of the Inderesham municipality, offering some consolation to the opposition camp.

In Ibrahimpatnam municipality, the BRS candidate was elected Chairperson, but celebrations were cut short when the Telangana High Court granted a stay, prompting the State Election Commission to halt the process. Meanwhile, meetings of the Ketanapally and Khanapur municipalities descended into disorder, forcing officials to postpone elections there yet again.

The Thorrur municipality election illustrated the razor-thin margins and political manoeuvring that have characterised these polls. In the 16-member council, the BRS held nine seats while the Congress had seven. However, with the votes of Palakurthy MLA Yashaswini Reddy and Warangal MP Kadiyam Kavya, both ex-officio members, the Congress strength also rose to nine, resulting in a tie. The chairperson was decided through a draw of lots, which went in favour of Congress candidate Shravan.

BRS leaders, led by former minister E. Dayakar Rao, staged a protest, objecting to Kavya being allowed to vote as an ex-officio member. They argued that she was ineligible to cast a vote. Visibly emotional after losing the election through a draw, Dayakar Rao accused the ruling party of “murdering democracy,” echoing a sentiment widely expressed by opposition leaders across the state.

A similar drama unfolded in the 30-member Janagaon municipality. The BRS had won 13 wards and received support from two independents, and with the vote of ex-officio member and BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, its tally rose to 16. The Congress had secured 12 wards, while its ally Communist Party of India (CPI) won one. Two independents also backed the Congress, and with the support of ex-officio member and Bhongir MP Kiran Kumar Reddy, the ruling party too reached 16 votes. Once again, a draw of lots was used, resulting in the election of Congress candidate Balamani as Chairperson, while an independent backed by the BRS became Vice-Chairperson.

With these seven victories on Tuesday, the Congress tally of municipalities under its control has climbed to 91. Elections were held for 116 municipalities on February 11, with results declared on February 13. The BRS has so far taken control of 18 municipalities, while the BJP has secured one. Independent candidates have been elected as Chairpersons in three municipalities.

Although the Congress had secured a clear majority in 66 municipalities, its councillors also emerged as Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons in another 25 municipalities with the backing of other parties and independents, underscoring its ability to build post-poll alliances.

The Congress has also made significant gains in municipal corporations. Out of seven corporations where elections were held, it captured both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts in four — Mahabubnagar, Mancherial, Nalgonda and Ramagundam. In Kothagudem Municipal Corporation, a CPI nominee was elected Mayor while the Congress secured the Deputy Mayor’s post, with both parties having won 22 seats each in the 60-member house. In Nizamabad Municipal Corporation, the Congress candidate became Mayor, while All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) secured the Deputy Mayor’s position. The BJP, with the support of independents, captured the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation.

As Telangana’s urban political map continues to be redrawn, the Congress’s expanding footprint has come alongside persistent allegations of undemocratic practices and street-level confrontations, signalling that the battle for civic power in the state is far from over.

Team Maverick.