Telangana municipal polls: Congress headed for a clean sweep

Early trends in the Telangana municipal elections on Friday showed the ruling Indian National Congress gaining an edge over rivals Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as counting of votes progressed across the state.Of the 2,582 wards in 116 municipalities where polling was held on February 11, Congress candidates were ahead in 300 wards, while BRS was leading in 170 wards as of 10:45 AM, according to initial trends. BJP nominees were ahead in 48 wards.
The counting of votes for 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations commenced at 8 AM across 123 centres. Since ballot papers were used, officials indicated the process may take longer. Postal ballots were counted first before ward-wise tabulation began.Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy said elaborate and foolproof security arrangements were put in place. Nearly 12,000 police personnel and Quick Response Teams have been deployed to ensure law and order, with prohibitory orders enforced around counting centres.
More than 73% voter turnout was recorded in the elections, reflecting strong participation in the urban local body polls.The three-cornered contest among Congress, BJP and BRS is being viewed as a significant political test ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.Congress is aiming to strengthen its grip on Telangana’s urban political landscape. The BJP hopes to widen its base and position itself as a strong alternative force. The BRS, after setbacks in the 2023 Assembly elections, 2024 Lok Sabha polls and two Assembly bypolls, is looking to regain momentum through improved municipal performance.