Hyderabad: The Congress party, led by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, has delivered a massive political blow to its main rival, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), by sweeping the municipal elections across the state.
In a stunning show of strength, the Congress secured 86 out of 105 chairperson and mayor posts, leaving the BRS with just 18 municipalities. The results have dramatically reshaped Telangana’s local political landscape.
BJP’s Limited Presence
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win only one major corporation — the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation. The BRS, once dominant in urban local bodies, failed to win any of the seven municipal corporations. The Congress captured five corporations.
In Kothagudem, the Congress supported its ally, the Communist Party of India (CPI). Both parties contested separately but won 22 seats each, pushing the BRS down to just 8 corporator posts.
Election Timeline & Postponements
The civic body elections were held on February 12, results were announced on February 14, and elections for chairpersons, mayors and deputy posts took place on February 16. However, the State Election Commission postponed top post elections in 11 municipalities.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy personally led the campaign, taking responsibility to ensure maximum victories for the Congress.
From Collapse to Comeback
Just two years ago, the BRS had near-total control over Telangana politics. In the 2018 Assembly elections, it won 88 seats and dominated civic bodies across the state. It had also weakened the Congress by attracting several of its MLAs.
But the political tide began shifting after Revanth Reddy rose within the Congress ranks. After winning from Malkajgiri in the Lok Sabha elections, he steadily built his leadership. As Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president, he revived party morale and prepared for a long-term fight rather than short-term by-election wins.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, the Congress defeated the BRS and formed the government. Since then, Revanth Reddy has focused on stabilising state finances, addressing a reported debt burden of over Rs 8 lakh crore, and implementing pre-election promises.
Series of Electoral Gains
The Congress victory in the Secunderabad Cantonment byelection marked its first breakthrough in the state capital. Later, in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress won 8 of 17 seats, while the BJP also secured 8 and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen retained its Hyderabad seat. The BRS failed to win a single seat.
The Congress further strengthened its position by winning the Jubilee Hills Assembly byelection with a margin of over 25,000 votes. It also supported candidates who won nearly 70% of village panchayats in late 2025.
Final Tally
- INC & Allies – 86 Chairmen/Mayors, 84 Deputy posts
- BRS – 18 Chairmen, 14 Deputies
- BJP – 2 Chairmen/Mayors, 5 Deputies
- Independents – 4 Chairmen, 4 Deputies
- CPI – 1 Mayor
- AIFB – 1 Chairman, 1 Vice-Chairman
- CPM – 1 Vice-Chairman
- AIMIM – 3 Deputy Mayors/Vice-Chairmen
What’s Next?
With civic bodies now largely under its control, the Congress is preparing for upcoming elections to mandal parishads, zilla parishads, and key corporations including GHMC, Malkajgiri and Cyberabad, followed by Khammam and Warangal.
