Counting for the second phase of panchayat elections is underway across Telangana. Polling was conducted on Sunday in 193 mandals for 3,911 gram panchayat sarpanch posts and 29,917 ward member positions. As per results announced up to 8 pm, Congress-backed candidates have secured victories in over 1,705 sarpanch posts, emerging as the leading force in this phase.
BRS-supported candidates have won more than 889 sarpanch posts, while the BJP has secured 197 posts. Candidates from other parties and independents have won over 475 posts. In the first phase of the elections, Congress-backed candidates had won 2,334 sarpanch posts out of 4,236 gram panchayats, followed by BRS with 1,169, BJP with 189 and others with 538 victories.
Several Sarpanch Posts Decided by Narrow Margins
Several contests in the second phase were decided by razor-thin margins of just one vote. In Nalgonda district, BRS-backed Ramesh Naik won the sarpanch post in Ganeshpadu village of Damaracherla mandal by a single vote, defeating a Congress-supported candidate. In the same district, Kalluri Anita was elected sarpanch of Isukabavigudem, also by a one-vote margin.
In Ranga Reddy district, Bucchi Reddy won the sarpanch election in Gundala village of Chevella mandal by one vote, defeating BRS-backed Kanth Reddy. In Vikarabad district, Congress-supported Ramadevi secured victory in Rampur village by a one-vote margin. Similar narrow victories were recorded in Ambalpur village of Karimnagar district, where Venkatesh won by one vote, and in Ashalapalli village of Sangem mandal in Warangal district, where Kongara Mallamma secured the sarpanch post with a one-vote majority.