The counting of votes for the high-stakes municipal elections in Telangana began on Thursday morning across 116 Municipalities and seven Municipal Corporations, setting the stage for the first major electoral test since the Assembly elections. Polling was held peacefully on February 11, with over 52 lakh registered voters eligible to determine the fate of nearly 13,000 candidates in the urban local body polls.
The elections, seen as a crucial barometer of political sentiment ahead of future parliamentary contests, cover a vast swathe of the state. Voting took place across 2,582 wards spread over 32 districts. However, elections were not held in six municipalities whose terms have not yet expired.
The municipalities that went to polls span the length and breadth of Telangana, covering former district strongholds and emerging urban centres. In the erstwhile Warangal district, municipalities including Jangaon, Station Ghanpur, Narsampet, Wardhannapet, Parkal, Dornakal, Kesamudram, Mahabubabad, Maripeda, Thorrur and Bhupalpally saw polling.
In Karimnagar and surrounding areas, key municipalities such as Huzurabad, Jammikunta, Dharmapuri, Jagtiyal, Korutla, Metpalli, Raikal, Sircilla, Vemulavada, Manthani, Peddapalli and Sulthanabad were among those that voted.
Khammam district witnessed polling in Edulapuram, Kalluru, Madhira, Sattupalli, Wyra, Aswaraopeta and Yellandu. In the Adilabad region, municipalities including Adilabad, Bhainsa, Khanapur, Nirmal, Asifabad, Kagaznagar, Bellampally, Chennur, Kyathanpally and Luxettipet exercised their franchise.
Ranga Reddy and surrounding areas saw polling in Amangal, Chevella, Ibrahimpatnam, Moinabad, Shadnagar, Shankarpally, Kodangal, Parigi, Tandur, Vikarabad, Aliyabad, Muduchinthalapally, Yellampet, Armur, Bheemgal and Bodhan.
Further municipalities in the fray include Banswada, Bichkunda, Kamareddy, Yellareddy, Alair, Bhongir, Chotuppal, Mothkur, Pochampally, Yadagirigutta, Huzurnagar, Kodad, Neredcheria, Suryapet, Tirumalagiri, Chandur, Chityal, Devarakonda Hakiya, Miryalguda, Nandikonda, Cherial, Dubbaka, Gajwel, Husnabad, Andole-Jogipet, Gaddapotharam, Gummadidala, Indresham, Isnapur, Jinnaram, Kohir, Narayankhed, Sadasivapet, Sangarreddy, Zaheerabad, Medak, Narsapur, Ramayampet, Thoopran, Bhoothpur, Devarakadra, Kosgi, Maddur, Makthal, Narayanapet, Alampur, Gadwal, Ieeja, Waddepalle, Amarchinta, Atmakur, Kothakota, Pebbair, Wanaparthy, Kalwakurthy, Kollapur, Nagarkurnool and Mulugu.
The current municipal elections carry considerable political weight, coming nearly four years after the previous urban local body polls held in 2020. In that election, the then-TRS (now BRS) emerged as the dominant force, securing 1,767 wards out of the 2,755 that went to polls across 121 municipalities.
The Congress had finished a distant second in 2020 with 580 wards, while the BJP secured 311 wards. The AIMIM had won 93 wards, while the CPI and CPM registered victories in 20 and 12 wards respectively. Others and independent candidates had clinched 321 wards in that election.
Counting began at 8 AM across designated centres in each district, with elaborate security arrangements in place. Officials stated that strict protocols were being followed to ensure a smooth and transparent counting process. Three-tier security has been deployed at counting centres, and prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS have been imposed in several districts as a precautionary measure.
District collectors and election officials are supervising the counting process, with results expected to trickle in through the day. The performance of major political parties—the ruling Congress, opposition BRS and BJP—will be closely watched.
With the Congress having wrested power in the state in the December 2023 Assembly elections, these municipal results will serve as an early report card on its governance and organisational strength. For the BRS, it is an opportunity to prove it remains a formidable force at the grassroots level, while the BJP will seek to build on its growing footprint in urban centres.
The counting of votes is currently underway, and final ward-wise results are expected by late evening.
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