Celebrations erupt at Gandhi Bhavan as Congress workers cheer results. Opposition parties face an uphill battle ahead of chairperson and mayor elections.
BY PC Bureau
February 13, 2026 – In a decisive show of political strength, the ruling Congress party has taken a commanding lead in the ongoing Telangana municipal elections, leaving the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in second place and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) struggling in a distant third.
As counting progressed on Friday for 2,582 wards across 116 municipalities, along with additional seats in seven municipal corporations, Congress crossed the 900-mark in leads, signaling the possibility of a near-clean sweep in the state’s urban local bodies. Early trends underscore the popularity of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who has overseen a series of high-profile development schemes in recent months.
The elections, held on February 11, saw a robust voter turnout of over 73%, reflecting widespread public engagement and intense competition among the three major political forces. Postal ballots were counted first, and with the ballot paper system in place, the counting process was expected to stretch throughout the day. By midday, trends from 1,615 wards showed Congress leading in 876, BRS in 462, BJP in 138, and others in 139.
BREAKING : Congress Tsunami has hit Telangana Municipal elections
INC : 821
BRS : 447
OTH : 132
BJP : 97 🤣Moye Moye for BJP, Congress is now dominating both rural & urban belts. RRR Magic on a roll 🔥pic.twitter.com/VB3PynGodV
— Ankit Mayank (@mr_mayank) February 13, 2026
Later updates revealed Congress extending its lead to over 900 wards, BRS rising to 534, and BJP climbing slightly to 162, cementing the dominance of the ruling party across Telangana’s urban centers.
At Gandhi Bhavan, the Congress headquarters in Hyderabad, jubilant party workers erupted in celebration. Crackers lit the evening sky as slogans rang out across the city, signaling both relief and triumph. Reports indicated Congress leading in 36 of the 116 municipalities, sparking expectations of a historic mandate.
“The people of Telangana have supported the development schemes of CM Revanth Reddy,” said Congress leader Mettu Sai Kumar. “The electorate has reposed its trust in Congress and in Revanth Reddy personally. We will never desert the people; they have voted for us. This result is a clear reflection of the faith people have placed in the party and its leadership.”
Detailed ward-level results highlighted Congress’s overwhelming performance. In Edulapuram municipality, the party secured 11 out of 15 wards, while CPM won 2, BRS 1, and an Independent candidate 1. Wyra saw Congress claim 8 wards, CPM 1, and an Independent 1. Sathupalli recorded Congress wins in 8 wards versus 1 for BRS; Kallur had Congress 7 and BRS 3; Madhira returned an emphatic 14-1-1 in favor of Congress, BRS, and an Independent respectively.
Huzurnagar municipality in Suryapet district also reflected Congress dominance. The party clinched key wards, including Ward 1 (Modala Kameshwari), Ward 2 (Kodi Jyothi), and continued with multiple wins through Ward 28 (Nandigama Srinu), while BRS, CPM, CPI, and Independents managed scattered victories.
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Security and transparency measures were stringent. The State Election Commission deployed nearly 12,000 police personnel and Quick Response Teams at 123 counting centers, with prohibitory orders enforced to maintain peace around key premises. Live webcasting of counting sessions ensured transparency, with DGP B Shivadhar Reddy describing arrangements as “comprehensive and foolproof” to prevent disruptions.
Politically, the stakes were high. CM Revanth Reddy expressed confidence in a strong performance, projecting the election as an endorsement of his administration’s policies. BJP leader G Kishan Reddy remained cautiously optimistic, citing allegations of misuse of official machinery by the ruling party but vowing to maintain a firm ground presence. For BRS, still recovering from setbacks in the 2023 assembly elections, 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and recent bypolls, the municipal elections represented a critical opportunity for revival.
Exit polls had predicted closely contested wards in certain urban bodies, prompting BRS and BJP to sequester candidates in camps to prevent poaching and consolidate support ahead of chairperson and mayoral elections scheduled for February 16.
The outcome is expected to significantly reshape Telangana’s urban political landscape. Congress’s commanding lead not only bolsters its dominance at the municipal level but also challenges opposition parties to rethink their strategies ahead of the 2028 assembly polls. Final results are anticipated by Friday evening, and the broader implications are likely to reverberate across state-level politics.
