HYDERABAD: Backward Classes (BC) candidates put up a strong show in the municipal elections across Telangana, winning a significant share of seats beyond their reserved quota.
Of the total 2,995 wards in the state, BC candidates secured 1,373 seats, accounting for nearly 46% of the total councillor and corporator posts. This includes victories in both reserved and general categories.
As many as 970 wards were reserved for BCs, including BC (General) and BC (Women) categories. BC candidates won 100% of these seats. In addition, they made notable gains in the 1,480 general (unreserved) wards, winning over 400 seats.
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Major political parties - Congress, BRS and BJP - allotted tickets to BC candidates, particularly from Goud, Mudiraj, Yadav and Padmashali communities, as part of their social representation strategy. This contributed to the rise in BC representation across municipalities.
Nalgonda, Rangareddy see high BC representation
In the erstwhile Nalgonda and Rangareddy districts, BC candidates were elected in large numbers as councillors and corporators.
In Nalgonda district, BC representation was prominent in Miryalaguda and Nalgonda municipalities, as well as in Devarakonda and Chityal. BC women candidates registered significant victories in Miryalaguda and Nalgonda towns.
In Rangareddy district, municipalities such as Ibrahimpatnam, Shadnagar, Shankarpally and Turkayamjal saw a higher number of elected representatives from BC communities, particularly Goud and Mudiraj groups.
In north Telangana districts too, BC candidates secured a majority of seats through reservations.
Women candidates secure over 50% wards
Of the 2,995 wards, 50% were reserved for women across categories. BC women emerged successful not only in BC (Women) wards but also in general women's quota seats.
Women candidates also won in BC (Women), SC (Women), ST (Women) and general (Women) categories. Overall, women secured over half the total seats in the state.
In Karimnagar and Rajanna Sircilla districts, Padmashali (handloom) and Munnuru Kapu communities performed strongly, including in general category wards. In Sircilla and Vemulawada municipalities, these groups secured several seats.
In Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts, Munnuru Kapu and Mudiraj candidates won a considerable number of general category wards.
With strong representation in councils, BC members may also have a chance to secure municipal chairperson and mayor posts allocated under the general category.