In a strongly worded address delivered via Zoom from the United States on Friday night, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy laid down uncompromising guidelines for the upcoming municipal elections, making it crystal clear that the Congress party will field candidates purely on the basis of merit and proven winnability.

The Chief Minister categorically instructed party leaders that B-forms — the official authorization to contest on the Congress symbol — must be issued exclusively to those with strong winning potential. He explicitly warned against distributing tickets on the basis of personal acquaintance, friendship, or favoritism, declaring that merit and electability would be the sole criteria for candidate selection.

The high-level virtual meeting, convened to finalise strategy for the municipal polls, was attended by TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, several ministers, Parliament in-charges, District Congress Committee presidents, and other senior leaders.

Revanth Reddy reminded the gathering of the recent Cantonment and Jubilee Hills by-election victories, which were achieved through disciplined collective effort rather than individual lobbying. 

He stressed that the same unified approach must be replicated in the municipal elections, with zero tolerance for negligence or complacency in candidate selection.

The Chief Minister directed the party to identify and field strong contestants capable of directly challenging and defeating BRS and BJP candidates in every ward and every division. “Every single ward matters,” he emphasised, underscoring the critical importance of urban local body polls in consolidating Congress’s position across Telangana.

He further instructed leaders to actively control and prevent the emergence of rebel candidates by ensuring full coordination and discipline within the ranks.

Revanth Reddy advised against making any premature announcements about chairpersons or mayors, stating that such appointments would be decided later after careful consideration of social representation and balance.

During the meeting, TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud presented comprehensive survey reports analysing voter sentiment and competitive strength across various municipal bodies.

Setting an ambitious goal, the Chief Minister directed the party to target 90 per cent of the seats in the municipal elections. He also shared detailed guidance on early identification and neutralisation of potential rebel threats through dialogue and strict organisational control.

Revanth Reddy is scheduled to personally lead the election campaign from February 3 onwards, engaging directly with booth-level workers, activists, and voters to energise the party machinery and reinforce its welfare-oriented governance agenda.