State Election Commission Gears Up for Municipal Polls in Telangana

The countdown to urban local body elections in Telangana has officially begun, with the State Election Commission (SEC) stepping up preparations for the second general elections to 117 municipalities and seven municipal corporations across the State.

State Election Commissioner Rani Kumudini held a high-level video conference with district collectors and municipal commissioners to review poll preparedness. During the meeting, she issued a series of clear instructions to ensure that the election process is conducted smoothly and without lapses.

Voters’ List Schedule Announced:

As per Section 195-A of the Telangana Municipalities Act, 2019, the SEC has fixed the schedule for the preparation and publication of electoral rolls: January 12, 2026: Publication of final ward-wise voters’ lists. January 13, 2026: Release of the draft list of polling stations and uploading on the ‘T-Poll’ software. January 16, 2026: Publication of the final photo electoral rolls, polling station-wise. The Commissioner directed officials to strictly adhere to the timeline and ensure accuracy in the voters’ lists.

Election Machinery Set in Motion:

To avoid any administrative shortcomings, the SEC has asked officials to immediately appoint Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams. Instructions were also issued to keep ballot boxes ready in advance and to update all details of polling personnel on the T-Poll portal.

Officials were told to ensure that election staff are adequately trained and that all logistical arrangements are completed well before polling.

Nalgonda Gets Corporation Status:

In a significant development, the Telangana Assembly has recently approved an amendment Bill upgrading Nalgonda municipality to a municipal corporation. Elections will be held simultaneously for Nalgonda and a few other newly created corporations in this phase.

With this upgrade, the State will now have 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations , according to updated election records.

Important Note for Voters:

The final voters’ list will be published on January 12 . Citizens are advised to verify their names either at their respective municipal offices or through the online portal to avoid any last-minute issues.

The State Election Commission has reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair and transparent urban local body elections across Telangana.