Congress backed candidates sweep over 53% Gram Panchayats in Telangana
Ruling party dominates three-phase polls, secures majority of Sarpanch posts across 30 districts
Hyderabad, Dec 18: Telangana’s ruling Congress has emerged as the dominant force in the Gram Panchayat elections, winning over 53 per cent of Sarpanch posts across the state, according to final results declared after polling in three phases.
The Congress maintained its strong performance in the third and final phase held on December 17, securing a clear overall majority. Of the 4,159 Gram Panchayats notified for the third phase, Congress-backed candidates won 2,246 seats. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) followed with 1,163 Sarpanch posts, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trailed with 246 seats. Independents and others accounted for 491 seats.
Overall, out of 12,727 Gram Panchayats notified by the State Election Commission (SEC) across all three phases, Congress-backed candidates won 6,822 Gram Panchayats, accounting for 53.60 per cent of the total. BRS secured 3,519 seats (27.64 per cent), BJP won 703 seats (5.52 per cent), while Independents and others claimed 1,654 seats (12.99 per cent).
With several Independents extending support, the ruling party claimed it had effectively secured nearly two-thirds of the Sarpanch posts. Except for Siddipet district, Congress-backed candidates won a majority of Gram Panchayats in 30 districts, including Nalgonda, Khammam, Rangareddy, Sangareddy, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Nizamabad and Yadadri.
The SEC had notified elections for 12,728 Sarpanch posts and 1,12,242 Ward Member posts across 564 mandals. As many as 1,205 Sarpanches were elected unanimously, while no nominations were filed in 21 Gram Panchayats. Polls could not be held in five Panchayats due to court stays.
Elections were conducted for the remaining 11,497 Sarpanch posts in three phases. Upa-Sarpanches will be elected by the newly elected Ward Members.
For Ward Members, 25,848 were elected unanimously, while no nominations were filed in 393 wards. Elections could not be held in 46 wards due to court orders. Polling was conducted for the remaining 85,955 wards. A total of 38,394 candidates contested for Sarpanch posts and 2,12,251 for Ward Member posts.
Voter turnout exceeded 80 per cent across the three phases, with over 1.66 crore voters exercising their franchise. The SEC is expected to take a decision soon on conducting elections in 26 Gram Panchayats and 439 wards where polls could not be held.
The newly elected Sarpanches will assume office on December 22. The state government expedited the Gram Panchayat elections as central grants worth ₹3,000 crore are set to lapse by March 31, 2026.
Elections to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and municipal corporations will be held after the High Court delivers its final verdict on 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in local bodies.
