Hyderabad: In a dramatic display of post-poll power play that cut across political spectrum, the ruling Congress emerged as the dominant force in Telangana's urban local bodies, capturing most mayoral and chairperson posts through a mix of numbers, negotiations, and cross-party support. These indirect elections—marked by allegations, counter-allegations, and unexpected tie-ups among rivals—underscored how local equations often override state-level political positions.
Of the seven municipal corporations, Congress secured five mayoral posts, while the BJP won one and the BRS failed to win any. In Kothagudem, the mayor's post went to the CPI for the first two-and-a-half years under a power-sharing arrangement with Congress, after which the ruling party will assume the position.
Across municipalities, Congress won 82 chairperson posts, followed by 17 by BRS. The BJP secured one chairperson post along with seven vice-chairperson posts and a deputy mayor position. AIMIM won one deputy mayor post and two vice-chairperson posts, five independents won chairperson and vice-chairperson posts, All India Forward Bloc won two top posts, while CPM secured one vice-chairperson post.
On the ground, many ULBs witnessed cross-party tie-ups — BRS with BJP in some towns, Congress with BRS or BJP in others — particularly where no party had a clear majority.
In Yellampet municipality, the chairperson is from the BRS while the vice-chairperson is from the BJP. In Vemulawada, Congress and BRS candidates were elected as chairperson and vice-chairperson respectively. In Aliabad, the posts went to Congress and BJP candidates respectively. In Nizamabad municipal corporation, a BRS corporator voted in favour of the Congress.
Political observers said such arrangements are common in local body polls when fractured mandates force parties to prioritise control over ideology.
Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud claimed the party effectively won 95% of ULBs if allies and supporting independents are included, though official data indicated about 80% victories on its own. Congress leaders said their next targets include the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and other corporations within the Outer Ring Road limits, as well as Khammam and Warangal ULBs where elections are yet to be held.
The scale of the victory marks a sharp turnaround from the 2020 municipal polls, when Congress had won only five ULBs and the BRS dominated the rest.
Historic win: Bhatti
Irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy described the outcome as a ‘referendum' on the Congress govt's performance, while deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka said the results reflected urban voters' trust in the Revanth Reddy govt's welfare and development agenda.
"These results are a strong rebuttal to those who had alleged that Congress was only a rural-based party. The party securing 90 to 95 municipalities across the state was a historic victory. I express my gratitude to every voter who supported the party, noting that voters delivered a massive mandate in municipal elections just as they did in assembly, parliamentary, and panchayat elections," Bhatti said.
Indirect elections were held for mayors and deputy mayors in seven corporations and for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons in 105 municipalities, while polls in 11 municipalities were postponed.
Ex-officio votes
Congress won mayoral posts in Nizamabad, Mahbubnagar, Ramagundam, Nalgonda and Mancherial, while the BJP captured Karimnagar. Several contests, particularly in Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Kothagudem, saw hung verdicts, making ex-officio votes and post-poll arrangements crucial.
BRS senior leader T Harish Rao alleged Congress forged informal understandings with BJP to keep out BRS, while Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay accused Congress, BRS and AIMIM of joining hands to defeat BJP in Karimnagar. Congress, in turn, accused BRS and BJP of continuing a ‘secret alliance'.