Hyderabad, Feb 13: In a significant shift in the urban political landscape, the ruling Congress party has emerged as the dominant force in the 2026 Telangana Municipal Elections. As counting concluded for most of the 123 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) on Friday, February 13, Congress secured a decisive lead, dealing a major blow to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with limited gains.
The elections, held on February 11, saw a robust voter turnout of 73.01%, with over 3.8 million citizens casting their ballots to elect representatives for 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations.
The Numbers: A Decisive Mandate
As per the latest data from the Telangana State Election Commission, Congress has successfully turned the tide in its favor since the 2023 Assembly elections.
| Party | Wards Won/Leading (Approx.) | Key Regions |
| Congress (INC) | 1,212+ | Madhira, Wanaparthy, Nizamabad (Armur, Bheemgal) |
| BRS | 647+ | Jogulamba Gadwal, parts of Rangareddy |
| BJP | 209+ | Karimnagar, Nizamabad (Early leads) |
| AIMIM | 43+ | Rangareddy municipalities |
| Independents/Others | 134+ | Local pockets in Bodhan and Gadwal |
Key Highlights and Local Triumphs
- Congress Dominance: The party secured a “thumping victory” in Madhira Municipality, winning 18 out of 22 wards. It also performed strongly in Nizamabad district, sweeping Bheemgal and securing a majority in Armur.
- BRS Resistance: Despite the Congress wave, BRS held its ground in Jogulamba Gadwal, winning a tight contest against the ruling party by securing 30 wards compared to Congress’s 29.
- BJP & AIMIM: The BJP struggled to replicate its previous urban performance, though it opened its account in several divisions of the Nizamabad Municipal Corporation. Meanwhile, AIMIM retained its influence in the Rangareddy district, claiming 10 wards by mid-afternoon.
- Unanimous Victories: Interestingly, 12 candidates across the state were elected unanimously before the polling day even began.
Next Steps: Electing the Mayors
The newly elected Councillors and Corporators are scheduled to be sworn in on February 16, 2026. Immediately following the oath-taking ceremony, special meetings will be held to conduct indirect elections for the prestigious posts of Mayors and Deputy Mayors (for Corporations), Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons (for Municipalities)
Political Analysis
For Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, these results serve as a massive “vote of confidence” for the Congress government’s governance over the past two years. For the BRS, the results signal a continued struggle to regain the urban voters they once held firmly. The BJP, while gaining in specific pockets, failed to emerge as the primary challenger to Congress in this round of polling.
