Union Home Minister for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay has the deciding vote ex officio in the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation. File | Photo credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR
The split verdict in Karimnagar and Nizamabad municipal corporations has forced the ruling Congress and BJP to go all out to get independent councillors.
The battle for control of the Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK) is set for a nail-biter. Claims and counter-claims are flying fast between the BJP and the Congress party over the mayoral and deputy mayor posts in the indirect elections scheduled to be held on Monday (February 16).
Though the BJP has won the highest number of 30 out of the total 66 divisions, it still lacks the required numerical strength to win the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in MCK.
The ruling Congress party, the main opposition BRS and the AIMIM won 14, 9 and 3 divisions respectively, with the remaining 10 divisions going to independent candidates.
With the main political parties lacking the necessary majority to secure the post of mayor, all eyes are now on independent candidates whose support has become crucial to winning the MCK. The votes of the ex-officio members will play a key role in deciding the outcome of the mayoral election.
Local BJP leaders claimed that four independent candidates have already pledged their support to the party and several others are ready to cast their votes in favor of the BJP in the mayoral election. They exuded confidence that the BJP was poised to win the mayoral election with the support of independent candidates, citing that Union Home Minister and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay would also vote as an ex-officio member.
The fight for the post of mayor of MCK took an interesting turn when Congress leaders bet on wresting MCK. Sources in the Congress party claimed that five newly elected corporators, including three independents and two AIFB candidates, joined the Congress party in Hyderabad on Sunday (February 15). They further demanded the support of three newly elected AIMIM corporators and several others for the ruling party.
A similar situation prevails in Nizamabad, where a fractured verdict has caused a bitter fight for the mayor’s election.
Despite emerging as the single largest party by winning 28 of the total 60 divisions in the Nizamabad Municipal Corporation, the BJP faces an uphill task to reach the magic number of 31 in the mayoral elections to be held on Monday. After winning 17 divisions, the Congress party relies on the support of AIMIM, which won 14 divisions. The BRS won the only division that apparently decided to join the Congress.
Published – 15 Feb 2026 21:19 IST