Congress candidates secured most unopposed wards in Telangana’s municipal elections, offering an early morale boost to the ruling party ahead of polling on February 11.

Hyderabad: The ruling Indian National Congress has gained an early psychological advantage in Telangana’s ongoing municipal elections after its candidates won the bulk of wards decided without contest, party leaders said.

Figures released by the Telangana State Election Commission after the nomination withdrawal deadline show that 14 wards across municipalities and municipal corporations were declared unopposed. Of these, Congress candidates secured 12 seats, while the remaining two went to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi. Election officials said no complaints of pressure, inducement or forced withdrawals were reported during the process.

The results have been projected by Congress supporters as a sign of growing confidence in the government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, particularly at the grassroots. Party channels highlighted the unopposed wins as an endorsement of welfare-focused governance and a rejection of rival narratives.

The civic polls cover around 2,996 wards across the state. After accounting for unopposed seats, voting will take place in about 2,982 wards on February 11, with counting scheduled for February 13. Overall, the contest remains crowded: Congress has fielded close to 2,948 candidates, BRS about 2,878, and the Bharatiya Janata Party roughly 2,634, apart from a large number of Independents.

In recent campaign speeches, Revanth Reddy has accused the BRS and BJP of having worked in tacit understanding in the past and has called on voters to remain vigilant during the civic polls.

Analysis: While unopposed victories do not determine the final outcome, they often signal organisational strength at the ward level. With polling still days away, the Congress will look to convert this early momentum into wider gains, even as the crowded field suggests fiercely fought contests in most urban pockets. This assessment reflects analytical opinion; all factual details above are drawn from the original content.