The political battle for Telangana’s two Graduate MLC seats — Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad and Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda — has begun to take shape. The terms of the current members, Surabhi Vani Devi and Teenmar Mallanna, end in March 2027, prompting the Election Commission to start preparations for fresh electoral rolls. With Congress in power, BRS seeking to regain ground and BJP trying to strengthen its hold among graduates, the elections are expected to see an intense multi-cornered contest. Independent candidates and youth organisations are also likely to play a role.
Fresh Voter Registration Holds the Key
A major part of the election exercise will be the fresh registration of graduate voters. The Chief Electoral Officer has announced that the process will begin with a public notice on September 28. Graduates must submit Form-18 to enrol as voters. Existing voter lists for Graduate MLC elections do not automatically continue, meaning even those who voted in previous elections have to register again. Applications will be accepted until November 6, with the final electoral roll scheduled to be published on December 30. With the combined electorate expected to run into several lakhs, political parties are already preparing to mobilise their cadres to help eligible graduates complete the registration process within the deadline.
Congress, BRS Step Up Preparations
The ruling Congress is expected to highlight government recruitment, the job calendar, DA and pension-related issues while reaching out to employees, unemployed graduates and other sections of the educated electorate. Party leaders are also focusing on expanding the voter-registration drive at the grassroots level. For the BRS, the elections will be an important test after its setbacks in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The party is likely to focus on issues such as delays in implementing the job calendar and the government's handling of employment-related promises. BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao and Former Minister T. Harish Rao are reportedly working on teams to strengthen the party's organisational network and voter-registration efforts in the two constituencies.
BJP Sets Sights on Hyderabad Seat
The Telangana BJP has also placed special focus on the Graduate MLC elections, particularly the Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad constituency. The party is concentrating on voter registration among its traditional support base, including employees, professionals, urban voters and sections of the educated middle class. BJP leaders are also expected to use their organisational network to reach graduates in Hyderabad and Rangareddy. The party's recent victory in the Karimnagar-Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad Graduate MLC election in March 2025, where C. Anji Reddy won the seat, has added momentum to its preparations for the next round.
Over 20 BJP Leaders Eye Ticket
The BJP is also facing a competitive race within the party for the Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar seat. More than 20 leaders are reportedly interested in contesting the election. Former MLC and present State President N. Ramchander Rao, who represented the constituency from 2015 to 2021, BJP spokesperson Amarnath and several other leaders are among those being discussed. The party leadership is expected to consider factors such as organisational strength, social equations, previous electoral performance and the candidate's reach among graduates before finalising its nominee.
Registration Could Shape the Contest
Unlike regular elections, the Graduate MLC polls put unusual importance on voter registration because eligible graduates have to enrol afresh. As a result, all three major parties are expected to focus heavily on identifying eligible voters, helping them complete Form-18 applications and ensuring that the required documents reach election authorities before the deadline. With Congress, BRS and BJP preparing their respective networks — and independent candidates also entering the field — the graduate constituencies are likely to see an intense campaign ahead of the March 2027 elections.
