The Telangana government is planning to conduct urban local body elections after reviewing its performance in the recent panchayat polls. Political circles suggest that the ruling Congress is considering GHMC and other urban local body elections in the second week of February.
With student examinations expected to begin in March, the government aims to complete the election process by mid-February. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has already asked the State Election Commission to be prepared by the third week of January.
The term of 120 municipalities and nine corporations ended in January 2025, and they are currently being run by special officers. Meanwhile, the tenure of GHMC, Khammam, and Warangal corporations is set to end by February 2026.
Recently, the state government announced the inclusion of 27 municipalities and corporations around the ORR into GHMC to support Hyderabad’s development. Some panchayats were upgraded into municipalities, while a few municipalities were elevated to corporation status.
At present, there are eight corporations and 125 municipalities under GHMC. The ruling party still has time until April in Khammam and Warangal corporations, as well as Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts.
The State Election Commission has begun preparing voter lists across Telangana, with completion expected by the second week of January. This exercise is aimed at ensuring readiness ahead of the proposed February elections.
Meanwhile, the state government sanctioned development works worth Rs 2,782 crore in October. Of these, 2,432 works are being executed in urban local bodies excluding GHMC.
Newly formed municipalities received Rs 15 crore each, while panchayats merged into municipalities were allotted Rs 20 crore. Newly created corporations were given Rs 30 crore, and most works are expected to reach final stages by the end of January.
