Telangana State Election Commissioner I. Rani Kumudini (centre), along with Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mahesh M. Bhagwat and Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration TK Sreedevi address a media conference to release the schedule for the 2nd Municipal and Municipal Corporation Elections 2026. | Photo credit: Nagara Gopal
With the municipal elections scheduled, the Telangana police have now put in place extensive security measures, including heavy deployment of personnel, check posts and armed flag marches, so that voters can cast their votes without fear, Director General of Police B. Sivadhar Reddy said on Tuesday (January 27, 2026).
The DGP said that the police machinery is fully prepared to conduct the elections in a peaceful and transparent manner. He noted that with the announcement of the election schedule, the election code came into effect in all city corporations and municipalities in the state, prompting heightened security and surveillance measures.
As part of the measures, checkpoints and flying squads have been activated to curb the distribution of illegal cash, alcohol, drugs and other inducements. Officials have been instructed to verify the source of cash held by individuals holding more than ₹50,000, ensure immediate storage of all licensed weapons and conduct special searches to detect and seize illegal weapons. Recalling the recent Gram Panchayat elections, Mr. Reddy said that as many as 1,800 weapons were surrendered at police stations during this exercise.
To instill confidence among voters, flag marches will be held at more than 1,000 sensitive and vulnerable places across the state involving the armed forces, the DGP said. Apart from the local police, personnel from the Telangana State Special Police and other departments are being deployed, while around 2,000 personnel from the excise and forest departments will also be deployed for election-related duties.
Appealing to voters, the DGP urged citizens to exercise their right to vote freely and without inducements, assuring them that police personnel would remain on alert to ensure a peaceful and orderly election.
Published – 28 Jan 2026 02:41 IST
