BJP to Contest Telangana Municipal Elections Independently, Says State President Ramchander Rao

Hyderabad, Jan 2026 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest the upcoming municipal elections in Telangana on its own, party state president N. Ramchander Rao announced on Tuesday, putting to rest speculation about possible alliances ahead of the urban local body polls. However, he added that the BJP remains open to receiving support from other political parties if they choose to extend it.

Ramchander Rao’s remarks come in the wake of the Jana Sena Party’s recent announcement that it will contest the municipal elections in Telangana. Jana Sena, led by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan, is a political ally of the BJP in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, leading to questions about potential coordination between the two parties in Telangana as well.

Reacting to Jana Sena’s decision, Ramchander Rao downplayed any concerns and asserted that there was nothing unusual about the move. “Jana Sena is a political party. What’s wrong if they contest the elections?” he said when asked by media persons. He reiterated that the BJP has grown into a strong alternative political force in Telangana and does not require alliances to fight municipal elections in the state.

His statement follows reports suggesting that Jana Sena’s decision to enter the urban local body polls, including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), has caused unease within sections of the BJP. Jana Sena is reportedly planning to field candidates in parts of the GHMC and in select municipalities where it believes it has a reasonable support base.

Leaders of Jana Sena in Telangana have indicated that Pawan Kalyan is keen to expand the party’s footprint in the state and views the municipal elections as an opportunity to build grassroots-level presence. The move marks a strategic shift for Jana Sena, which has so far had limited organisational activity in Telangana.

Municipal elections are expected to be held next month for 118 municipalities and five municipal corporations whose terms have ended. Polls for GHMC, along with Khammam and Warangal municipal corporations, will be conducted at a later date as their tenures conclude in the coming months.

The BJP enters the municipal elections with a strong urban base, particularly in Hyderabad. In the last GHMC elections, the party won 46 divisions in the 150-member civic body, emerging as a major challenger to the ruling party. The BJP has also performed well in key municipalities such as Karimnagar, Nizamabad, and Warangal, strengthening its claim of being a significant force in urban Telangana.

Both the BJP and Jana Sena are partners in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh. However, the TDP has not yet clarified whether it will contest the Telangana municipal elections. Notably, the party stayed away from the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, marking a first in its political history.

Team Maverick.