Ruling party dominated the first phase of elections!

In the first phase of the Panchayat elections, the ruling Congress party achieved a clear upper hand across Telangana. Out of 3,836 panchayats that went to polls (from a total of 4,230 notified), Congress-backed candidates won 2,567 sarpanch seats, securing 60.69% of the total. BRS-supported candidates won 1,162 seats. Of the 31 districts that participated, Congress dominated in 30, while BRS retained its influence only in Siddipet, the stronghold of former CM KCR and former minister Harish Rao. The BJP’s presence remained minimal, winning just 194 seats and failing to open its account in five districts. Independents, Left parties, and others together secured around 310 panchayats.

Although Panchayat elections are officially non-party-based, the contest at the ground level turned into a high-stakes battle between Congress and BRS. Congress treated these elections as prestigious, with ministers, MPs, and MLAs actively managing candidate selection and local negotiations. Their efforts reflected in the results, as Congress-backed candidates outperformed BRS in almost every district except Siddipet. Overall, the results indicate Congress’ strong rural support and the shrinking influence of BRS outside its core region.