Telangana Rural Polls to Test Congress Government as BRS and BJP Seek Rural Gains

Hyderabad | October 4, 2025 The upcoming rural body elections in Telangana are shaping up to be a key political test for the ruling Congress government, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The polls, scheduled to take place in five phases between October 9 and November 11, are expected to play a significant role in defining the political mood across the state. According to the State Election Commission, the sarpanch elections will be held in three phases, while the elections for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) will take place in two phases. Although the next Assembly elections are still three years away, these local body polls are being seen as an early referendum on the Congress government’s performance since it came to power nearly two years ago. For the Congress, which returned to power in Telangana after defeating the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the 2023 Assembly polls, the rural elections will test its hold over the countryside. Meanwhile, both the BRS, led by former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are viewing this as an opportunity to regain lost ground and strengthen their networks in the villages. While local development issues will remain central to the campaigns, all three major parties have signaled their intent to address broader political and governance topics. These include the performance of the Revanth Reddy government, the ongoing urea shortage affecting farmers, and the delay in obtaining Presidential assent for the state’s Bills that propose 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs). Sources within the BRS and BJP have indicated that their campaigns will highlight what they describe as the “failures” of the Congress government. The two opposition parties plan to target the ruling party’s handling of agriculture, welfare schemes, and administrative reforms. “Except for the free bus travel scheme for women, none of the Congress government’s promises have been fully implemented,” said BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao. He added that the rural elections will reveal the growing dissatisfaction among people who feel that the Congress has not lived up to its commitments. On the other hand, the Congress is expected to defend its record by emphasizing welfare programs, infrastructure initiatives, and efforts to boost the rural economy. The party hopes that schemes like free travel for women and farmer support measures will help it retain its popularity among key voter groups in rural Telangana. For the BRS, the elections are a chance to reconnect with voters who drifted away in the last Assembly polls, while the BJP is aiming to expand its base beyond urban centers by capitalizing on discontent among farmers and backward communities. As the campaigns gather pace, Telangana’s villages are expected to witness intense political activity, with rallies, door-to-door visits, and sharp debates over governance and promises. The results of these rural body polls will serve as an important indicator of public sentiment ahead of the state’s next major electoral battle. Telangana Rural Polls to Test Congress Government’s Strength Telangana’s rural body elections, set between October 9 and November 11, will be a major test for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s Congress government. The polls for sarpanches, MPTCs, and ZPTCs are expected to shape rural political dynamics ahead of the next Assembly elections. Opposition parties BRS and BJP are targeting the Congress over issues like urea shortage, unfulfilled schemes, and the pending 42% BC quota Bill. BJP’s Krishna Sagar Rao said only the free bus travel scheme has been implemented. The Congress, however, hopes its welfare efforts will help retain voter trust in rural Telangana.