The verdict from Telangana’s rural ballot has significantly altered the state's political landscape. While the ruling Congress celebrates its lead in the "numbers game," it remains haunted by the shadow of a resilient BRS that refuses to cede its ground. This sets the stage for a high-voltage showdown in the upcoming Municipal and Local Body (Zilla & Mandal Parishad) elections.
The 2025 Telangana Gram Panchayat elections have completely shaken up rural politics in the state. Just a few years ago, the TRS (now BRS) practically ran the show, grabbing about 60% of the seats in 2019 and ruling more than 7,700 panchayats. Fast forward to 2025, and the Congress-backed candidates have taken the lead, winning around 55% of villages—over 7,000 seats. The BJP, which barely had a presence in 2019 with just 163 sarpanches, has now jumped to more than 700 seats. That’s not a minor shift; it’s a clear sign the party is finding its footing in rural Telangana.
Latest election result reflected the heat of this new competition in the numbers. Unanimous elections—where a candidate wins without contest—have plummeted. In 2019, 2,134 panchayats (about 17%) went uncontested. In 2025, that number is down to just 1,204, or 9.4%. More villages are choosing to fight it out at the ballot box.
The Shift in Power: 2019 vs. 2025
The 2025 elections happened in three phases—December 11, 14, and 17. Congress made full use of its “ruling party advantage,” but the BRS proved surprisingly stubborn in some of its old strongholds. Unlike 2019, when the TRS swept the field with barely any opposition, 2025 was a battleground, with legal battles over reservations and the BJP pushing hard into the countryside.
42% BC Reservation Crisis
One of the biggest flashpoints was the BC (Backward Classes) reservation policy. The Congress government tried to raise BC reservations in local bodies to 42% by issuing GO 9. But the Hyderabad High Court stepped in and put a stay on that order in early December, arguing there wasn’t enough data to go beyond the 50% cap set by law. With the order on hold, reservations stayed at around 23%. Congress said they tried to offset this by giving BC candidates 17% to 20% of general seats, but the opposition wasn’t buying it. The BRS and BJP hammered the government for failing to protect BC interests, and the whole issue turned into a major talking point across villages.
Money Trail: Real Estate and Desperation
Money changed the game in these elections. In fast-growing districts near Hyderabad—Rangareddy, Sangareddy, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri—the sarpanch post became a huge prize because of the power it brings over land and layouts. Contesting got expensive—some candidates reportedly spent between ₹50 lakh and ₹2 crore in the richest villages. The pressure was so intense that at least two candidates died by suicide, weighed down by campaign debts and fear of losing after pouring everything they had into the race. Even with the State Election Commission’s tighter monitoring, “auctioning” sarpanch seats under the cover of village development funds still happened in many places.
BJP's Strategic Surge
The BJP made a big leap—a 330% jump in seats over 2019—though it’s still behind Congress and BRS overall. Back in the last rural polls, the BJP barely mattered, with just 163 sarpanches. In 2025, it’s over 700. They did especially well in North Telangana—in Nirmal, Adilabad, and Karimnagar. But in districts like Khammam and Nalgonda, they couldn’t win a single seat in the first phase, even after a strong showing in the Lok Sabha elections (the party holds 8 MPs from the state). The “saffron wave” many expected didn’t quite materialize.
BRS - Resilient but Eroding
The BRS, though out of power, isn’t out of the game. They won more than 3,600 seats, staying the main challenger, and put up tough fights in both North and South Telangana. In places like Siddipet, the BRS actually beat Congress, and in Sircilla, though they lost grip over the ground, they still left their mark. Their campaign leaned hard on the “incumbency of the local sarpanch,” blaming Congress for not releasing funds for village projects—something that clearly frustrated rural voters.
In the end, the 2025 results paint a new picture. Congress leads in rural Telangana, but not with the iron grip the BRS once had. The BJP has finally broken out of its urban bubble, but it still lacks deep roots in southern districts. And the BC Reservation issue, that’s not going away—it’s a live wire, set to shape the upcoming Municipal and Zilla Parishad elections. Rural politics in Telangana isn’t settled. It’s just getting started.
