Congress steps up for graduate MLC polls

metro india news  I hyderabad

The ruling Congress in Telangana has stepped up preparations for the upcoming elections to two Graduate constituencies of the Telangana Legislative Council, The two constituencies are the Nalgonda-Khammam-Warangal and Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad Graduate constituencies, with the terms of the sitting MLCs set to end in March 2027. The electoral rolls are currently being prepared afresh for the two Graduate constituencies, with November 1, 2026, fixed as the qualifying date for voter enrolment.

The Congress party has nominated Sama Rammohan Reddy for the Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad constituency and Ramreddy Sarvotham Reddy for the Nalgonda-Khammam-Warangal constituency. Sarvotham Reddy is the son of former minister and former Suryapet MLA Ramreddy Damodhar Reddy and comes from a long-standing Congress political family. Rammohan Reddy has also been associated with the Congress organization for several years and has held positions in the party’s media and communications wings.  Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, along with ministers from the districts covered by the constituencies, are expected to play a role in coordinating the party’s election strategy.

Parties view polls as important political test

The two Graduate MLC elections are particularly significant because they are scheduled to take place roughly two years before the next Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Political parties are therefore expected to closely monitor the results and voter response. The Nalgonda-Khammam-Warangal constituency is currently represented by Chintapandu Naveen, popularly known as Teenmar Mallanna. He won the seat in the previous election with Congress support but subsequently moved away from the party and has since formed his own political outfit.

The Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad constituency is represented by BRS MLC Surabhi Vani Devi. Both terms are due to expire in March 2027.  While the Congress has finalized its candidates, other major political parties have also begun preparations for the contests. Following the nominations, reports also emerged of dissatisfaction among some Congress leaders and workers over the selection of candidates, including concerns about representation of different social groups.

Congress plans constituency-level campaign

The Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad constituency covers 43 Assembly constituencies and seven Lok Sabha constituencies, spanning Hyderabad, Rangareddy and the erstwhile Mahabubnagar region, along with other districts included in the constituency’s present boundaries.  Congress and BRS have representation across the Assembly segments in Rangareddy, while the Mahabubnagar region has a strong Congress presence among its elected representatives.

Graduate voters at the centre of campaign

Unlike general elections, Graduate MLC polls have a special electorate comprising eligible graduates, making voter registration and mobilization particularly important. For the Congress, the contests will involve not only campaigning for its two nominees but also coordination among ministers, MPs, MLAs and local party organizations spread across a large geographical area. For the other parties, the elections will provide an opportunity to consolidate their respective graduate-voter bases and test their organizational networks.

As preparations intensify, employment, education, recruitment, public services and other issues affecting graduates are expected to feature prominently in the campaign. With the two constituencies covering a broad cross-section of Telangana, the MLC contests are set to attract considerable political attention in the months leading up to the 2027 elections.