Telangana recorded an impressive voter turnout of over 73 per cent in the elections to 10 municipal corporations, 43 municipalities, and 24 nagar panchayats held on February 11, 2026, marking one of the highest participation rates in recent local body polls in the state. The State Election Commission announced the provisional figure late on February 12, 2026, based on data compiled from all polling stations. The elections, conducted across 2,000 wards in urban and semi-urban areas, saw enthusiastic voter engagement despite intermittent rain in some districts and the ongoing Bharat Bandh called by trade unions and farmer groups on the same day.

The highest turnout was reported in smaller municipalities and nagar panchayats, with several recording figures above 80 per cent. Key municipal corporations such as Hyderabad, Warangal, Nizamabad, Khammam, and Karimnagar also witnessed strong participation, with Hyderabad's Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) areas showing turnout in the range of 65–70 per cent, slightly lower than rural-urban bodies due to higher urban apathy trends but still robust overall. Officials attributed the high voter turnout to increased awareness campaigns, door-to-door mobilization by political parties, and the significance of civic issues such as water supply, sanitation, roads, and urban development in everyday life.

The elections were largely peaceful, with only minor incidents of scuffles and complaints of bogus voting reported in isolated pockets. Security arrangements included deployment of central and state police forces, with webcasting and CCTV coverage at polling stations to ensure transparency. The State Election Commission had deployed flying squads and video surveillance teams to monitor the process. Voter turnout exceeded expectations in several districts, reflecting public interest in local governance amid the ruling Congress government's focus on urban infrastructure and welfare schemes since coming to power in December 2023.

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Counting of votes is scheduled to begin on February 13, 2026, with results expected by the evening or early next day. The contest primarily involved the ruling Congress, the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the BJP, with smaller parties and independents also in the fray in many wards. The outcome will be closely watched as an indicator of ground-level sentiment ahead of future state-level elections and the performance of local bodies in implementing state government programs.

The high participation rate has been welcomed by political leaders across parties, who described it as a healthy sign for grassroots democracy in Telangana. The State Election Commission praised voters for their enthusiasm and urged continued cooperation during the counting phase. The civic polls are seen as a crucial test for the Congress government’s urban governance record and the opposition’s ability to challenge it at the local level, setting the stage for a competitive political landscape in the state’s urban centers.

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