The stage is set for another round of electoral battle in Telangana, with the State Election Commission expected to release the schedule for municipal elections next week.
The development comes even as chief minister A. Revanth Reddy prepares for a series of extensive tours across the state in the run-up to the polls. he final voters’ list for all 123 municipalities has already been published, and the election machinery is in the final stages of preparation.
At the same time, the state government is understood to have taken a strategic decision regarding the conduct of Greater Hyderabad elections, signalling a major administrative and political overhaul.
As part of the reorganisation, the government has merged 20 municipalities and seven corporations into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
Further, plans are underway to bifurcate the existing GHMC into three separate corporations—Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri. Officials are currently working on the modalities of this restructuring.
Given that Greater Hyderabad elections are due, the government is reportedly considering holding elections for the three proposed corporations in advance.
According to sources, once the upcoming municipal elections are completed next month, the government may conduct elections to the three new corporations in March or April.
The political stakes in Greater Hyderabad remain high. In the 2020 GHMC elections, the BRS won 55 divisions, the AIMIM secured 44, the BJP emerged strong with 48 divisions, while the Congress managed to win only two seats.
However, since the Congress came to power in the state, several corporators have joined the party, marginally improving its position in the city. For the immediate round of municipal polls, elections will be held in six municipalities in Rangareddy district and three municipalities in Medchal district.
The chief minister is set to launch his election-related tours on January 16, beginning with foundation stone-laying and inauguration of development works in the erstwhile Adilabad district.
On January 17, he will visit Jadcherla, followed by a visit to Paleru on January 18. Later that evening, he will reach Medaram in Mulugu district and stay overnight.
From February 3 onwards, the Congress party will organise a series of election meetings across the erstwhile districts as part of its campaign strategy.
The Chief Minister has already assigned election and tour responsibilities to ministers to ensure coordinated campaigning.