Hyderabad: The ruling Indian National Congress has emerged as the dominant force in the Telangana municipal elections, winning 998 seats, while the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) secured 529 seats as counting continued across 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations.
The high-voltage local body polls, held on February 11, saw participation from more than 52 lakh eligible voters who cast their ballots to determine the fate of nearly 13,000 candidates. Officials said counting began amid tight security arrangements, with early trends indicating a clear advantage for Congress in several urban pockets.
Across the 116 municipalities spread over 32 districts, a total of 2,582 wards went to polls. However, elections were not conducted in six municipalities as their terms are yet to conclude.
Civic bodies such as Jangaon, Mahabubabad, Jagtiyal, Sircilla, Manthani, Peddapalli, Adilabad, Nirmal, Vikarabad, Tandur, Armur, and Bodhan were among those witnessing intense contests between Congress and BRS candidates.
A senior Congress leader said, “The people of Telangana have once again reposed faith in our governance model. Winning 998 seats reflects public approval of our development agenda at the grassroots level.”
Meanwhile, a BRS spokesperson maintained that the party had put up a strong fight, stating, “Despite anti-incumbency narratives, securing 529 seats shows that BRS continues to enjoy substantial support across urban Telangana.”
Political observers note that while Congress has taken a commanding lead in municipalities, the results also underline BRS’s continued relevance in local politics. The outcome is being viewed as an important barometer ahead of future electoral battles in the state.
