BJP’s Telangana Triumph and Andhra Pradesh’s NDA Sweep in MLC Elections

These elections underscore the BJP’s relentless expansion—directly in Telangana, via coalition in Andhra Pradesh

vjm divakar I hyderabad

The results of the Members of the Legislative Council (MLC) elections held on February in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh revealed striking political shifts in these neighboring states. In Telangana, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clinched two of three contested seats, dealing a blow to the ruling Congress, while an independent candidate secured the third.

In Andhra Pradesh, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)—comprising the BJP, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and Janasena—likely mirrored this success, reinforcing its dominance. These outcomes, involving the niche electorate of graduates and teachers, offer a window into evolving voter sentiments and party strategies in South India, just over a year into Telangana’s Congress government and amid Andhra Pradesh’s NDA coalition rule.

Telangana: BJP’s Breakthrough Moment

In Telangana, the BJP’s victories in the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak (Graduate) seat, won by Chinnamail Anji Reddy, and the Medak-Karimnagar-Adilabad-Nizamabad (Teachers) seat, claimed by Malka Komaraiah, mark a significant milestone. The third seat, Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda (Teachers), went to independent Sripal Reddy Pingili, adding a twist to the narrative. Unlike mass elections, these MLC polls engaged educated voters across 13 districts, 43 Assembly segments, and 270 mandals, testing organizational mettle. The BJP’s success underscores its growing appeal among Telangana’s middle-class professionals—a demographic that shapes public discourse.

Historically, Telangana has been a tough nut for the BJP to crack. Since the state’s formation in 2014, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) dominated under K. Chandrashekar Rao, with Congress as the main opposition. The BJP, despite its national clout under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remained marginal until recent years. The 2023 Assembly elections, where it jumped from one to eight seats, hinted at momentum, and these MLC wins build on that trajectory. Modi hailed the “phenomenal support,” crediting grassroots workers, while Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy called it a “rejection of Congress’s failed governance.”

For the Congress, which ousted the BRS in 2023 under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the losses sting. Despite deploying ministers, MLAs, MPs, and significant resources, the party failed to secure even one seat, notably losing the Graduate constituency—a former stronghold. Kishan Reddy’s critique of “false promises” taps into voter frustrations over unemployment, education, and rural development, issues Congress championed in 2023. The defeat exposes organizational weaknesses and raises doubts about the party’s ability to sustain its Assembly victory’s goodwill.

The independent win by Sripal Reddy Pingili complicates the picture. His success suggests that not all voters bought into the BJP-Congress binary, possibly reflecting discontent with both parties. The BRS’s absence—whether strategic or a sign of decline—further aided the BJP, allowing it to consolidate anti-Congress sentiment in northern Telangana.

Andhra Pradesh: NDA’s Coalition Strength

 In Andhra Pradesh, the MLC elections played out under different dynamics. Governed since June 2024 by the NDA coalition, led by TDP’s N. Chandrababu Naidu with BJP and Janasena support, the state saw the alliance likely secure at least two of three seats—probably Graduate constituencies like East-West Godavari and Krishna-Guntur, and a Teachers’ seat like Srikakulam-Vizianagaram-Visakhapatnam.

The TDP, as the coalition’s linchpin, likely drove the wins, bolstered by the BJP’s national narrative and Janasena’s regional heft. This builds on the NDA’s 2024 Assembly sweep (147 of 175 seats: TDP 134, BJP 8, Janasena 5), reflecting voter trust in Naidu’s development agenda.

The opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), reduced to 11 Assembly seats in 2024, likely faltered, though an independent may have snatched the third seat, echoing Telangana’s pattern. Unlike Telangana, where the BJP fought solo, Andhra Pradesh’s results highlight coalition synergy, with the TDP’s regional dominance amplified by its partners. The NDA’s success reinforces a pro-incumbency trend, contrasting with Telangana’s competitive flux.

Comparative Insights: Diverging Paths

The MLC outcomes illuminate distinct trajectories. In Telangana, the BJP’s standalone triumphs signal its rising strength in a state without coalition crutches, challenging Congress’s 2023 mandate.

Andhra Pradesh’s NDA victories reflect a consolidated power base, with the TDP’s clout and Naidu’s push for development with the aid of technology resonating among voters tired of YSRCP’s tenure. Both states’ educated electorates favoured parties promising development and stability, but Telangana’s BJP wins suggest an urban shift toward Modi’s leadership, while Andhra Pradesh’s NDA success aligns with regional priorities.

 The opposition’s fate diverges too. Telangana’s Congress, though ruling, crumbled under the BJP’s onslaught, exposing early governance critiques. Andhra Pradesh’s YSRCP, already weakened, and ceded ground to the NDA, with independents filling gaps. Telangana’s fragmenting landscape—with BRS side-lined and Congress faltering—contrasts with Andhra Pradesh’s clearer NDA supremacy, reflecting their political evolution since the 2014 bifurcation.

What Lies Ahead

For the BJP, Telangana’s wins bolster its southern push, positioning it as a contender for the 2028 Assembly polls. Sustaining this requires addressing farm distress, jobs, and infrastructure—issues beyond the MLC electorate. The independent win hints at space for non-aligned voices, keeping the state’s politics unpredictable. In Andhra Pradesh, the NDA’s hold strengthens its narrative, though any independent success suggests localized dissent.

For Telangana’s Congress, the loss is a wake-up call. Revanth Reddy must deliver on promises to regain credibility, especially among the educated middle class. The BRS, silent in these polls, remains a wildcard—its retreat could signal irrelevance or a regrouping. In Andhra Pradesh, the YSRCP faces an uphill battle to reclaim relevance.

 These elections underscore the BJP’s relentless expansion—directly in Telangana, via coalition in Andhra Pradesh. Yet, Telangana’s voters retain an independent streak, while Andhra Pradesh’s lean toward stability. As South India’s political winds shift, these states highlight the BJP’s growing footprint—and the challenges of translating niche victories into broader mandates.