Congress Secures Dominant Victory in Telangana Municipal Elections, Expands Urban Power

Updated 2026-02-23 19:05:00+00:00 (10 articles)

Congress Wins Majority of Wards and Municipalities The party captured 1,347 of the 2,996 contested wards, securing control of 99 out of 123 municipalities and corporations across the state [1]. It also prevailed in 68 of the 81 Assembly segments where municipal elections coincided, underscoring a broad urban footprint [1]. These results build on the 2023 Assembly win and the eight Lok Sabha seats won in 2024, reinforcing Congress as Telangana’s leading political force [1]. Major urban centers such as Hyderabad were not part of this round, leaving their outcomes for future contests [1].

Vote Share Shows Expanded Lead Over BRS Congress attained 39.80 % of the total municipal vote, outpacing the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) by 11.05 percentage points [1]. The margin dwarfs the narrow 2 % gap recorded in the 2023 Assembly race, indicating a significant swing toward Congress in urban electorates [1]. BRS retained a handful of municipalities, but its overall performance lagged behind the Congress surge [1]. Analysts note that sustaining this advantage will require delivering tangible urban services before the next Assembly election [1].

BJP Urban Support Plummets in Municipal Polls The Bharatiya Janata Party’s vote share collapsed to 15.68 % in the municipal contests, a sharp decline from the nearly 35 % it secured in the 2024 Lok Sabha election [1]. This downturn limited the BJP to a solitary victory in Karimnagar Corporation, highlighting its weakened urban base [1]. The party’s loss contrasts with its earlier strongholds, suggesting a realignment of voter preferences in Telangana’s cities [1]. The BJP’s reduced presence intensifies competition among the remaining parties for urban constituencies [1].

Political Landscape Remains Fragmented in Key Cities Nearly 38 municipalities delivered hung verdicts, reflecting persistent local contestation despite Congress’s overall dominance [1]. While the party consolidated power under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s decentralized campaign, internal dynamics and potential incumbency fatigue pose challenges ahead [1]. BRS’s retention of several municipalities and the BJP’s isolated win illustrate that opposition forces remain viable in specific locales [1]. The upcoming period will test Congress’s ability to translate electoral success into effective urban governance [1].

Sources

1.
The Hindu: Congress Strengthens Telangana Hold After Municipal Wins, Faces Urban Test: The article details Congress’s sweeping municipal victories, vote‑share gains, BJP’s sharp decline, and highlights upcoming challenges of incumbency fatigue and urban governance.
2026-02-23 19:05:00+00:00

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Timeline

2014 – BJP wins two Lok Sabha seats and four Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, achieving 7.22 % of the Lok Sabha vote and 4.13 % of the Assembly vote, marking its early foothold in the state [4].

2019 – Telangana holds its first gram‑panchayat elections since the state’s creation in 2014, establishing a new rural electoral arena [9].

2023 – Congress secures a decisive victory in the Telangana Assembly election, laying the groundwork for its later urban successes [1].

2024 – Congress expands its Telangana presence by winning eight Lok Sabha seats, reinforcing its status as the state’s dominant party [1].

Dec 11‑25 2025 – BJP launches the two‑phase Atal Modi Suparipalana Yatra across Andhra, unveiling Vajpayee statues and culminating in a public meeting in Amaravati to mobilise support [4].

Dec 19 2025 – Congress‑backed candidates cross the 50 % threshold in Telangana’s rural local‑body polls, while TRS leads with over 7,000 gram panchayats; welfare schemes like Rythu Bharosa feature prominently in the narrative [9].

Dec 20 2025 – BJP wins ten of the sixteen contested wards in Itanagar Municipal Corporation and secures four wards uncontested, but loses Pasighat Municipal Council to the People’s Party of Arunachal, which wins five of eight wards [10].

Dec 21 2025 – BJP declares itself the single‑largest party in Maharashtra’s civic polls with 3,120 seats and 129 council victories; Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah congratulate the unit, underscoring NDA unity [7].

Dec 21 2025 – BJP dominates Arunachal Pradesh panchayat elections, capturing 170 of 245 Zilla Parishad Member seats (including 59 uncontested) and 6,085 of 8,208 gram‑panchayat seats, signalling deep grassroots strength [8].

Dec 22 2025 – Mahayuti alliance sweeps Maharashtra local polls, winning 207 president posts; NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule questions whether the triumph stems from the alliance’s own strength or “defectors” [5].

Dec 22 2025 – BJP leader Chavan attributes the Mahayuti victory to “door‑to‑door welfare outreach” and the “development vision of Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Fadnavis,” highlighting grassroots engagement in Ambernath and Badlapur [6].

Jan 3 2026 – BJP‑Shiv Sena‑NCP Mahayuti secure 68 unopposed seats statewide ahead of the Jan 15 municipal elections, with senior leader Murlidhar Mohol targeting 125 seats and predicting a BJP mayor in Pune [3].

Jan 10 2026 – Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde tells a Thane rally that “voters back development over branding,” noting 21 candidates elected unopposed in the KDMC race and pledging ₹1,400 crore of redevelopment projects in Ulhasnagar [2].

Feb 23 2026 – Congress clinches a sweeping victory in Telangana’s 2026 municipal elections, winning 39.8 % of the vote (an 11‑point lead over BRS) and 1,347 of 2,996 wards, while analysts warn of “incumbency fatigue” and the need to deliver urban services before the next Assembly election [1].

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