The Congress party has secured the Telangana Urban Local Body (ULB) elections on February 11, 2026 as one of the most sweeping demonstrations of the 14-month administration of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Among the close to 3,000 wards (over 123 municipalities and corporations) contested, Congress had maintained a primacy in more than 1,300 wards, far ahead of the opposition. The elections, conducted at a high 73% voter turnout, have basically redrawn the political landscape of the state, and placed the Grand Old Party in the lead, ahead of the 2028 Assembly polls.
The Numbers: A Decisive Victory
The results are indicative of a strong decline for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and stagnant BJP performance, as Congress candidates enjoyed majorities in 90 of the 115 decided municipalities. Congress cemented its dominance in crucial corporations, such as Nalgonda and Karimnagar, once regarded by the BRS as battlegrounds.
“The Revanth Reddy Factor": Day-Winning Schemes
This landslide is credited to the effective operationalization of the Congress party’s “Six Guarantees,” political observers say. The electorate’s support is viewed specifically as a thank you on two flagship programmes:
- Mahalakshmi Scheme: For those women who live in urban and semi-urban areas, the free bus travel is a game changer; it really has brought the cost of living down for millions and has caused economic benefits to millions.
- Rythu Bharosa & Loan Waivers: The win for delivering farm loan waivers allowed Congress to build momentum in municipalities that have large agrarian connections as well. Speaking at a victory rally, CM Revanth Reddy said, “This is not just a party victory but it is a vote of confidence by the people for governance that centres on the well-being. The 'Indiramma Rajyam' is truly here.”
Impact on the 2028 Road Map
The BRS's ruling represents a major setback for the party seeking to rebuild itself after the 2023 defeat in the Assembly. For the BJP, the results show its "urban growth" plan still does not penetrate the grassroots to challenge the Congress monolith in Telangana. Now that it has mastery of the vast bulk of the state’s urban administrative organs, Congress will have a clear runway on which to launch infrastructure projects and elevate its cadre, before the next big elections in 2028.
