Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Congress Faces BJP Challenge Despite Holding Adilabad Municipality Chairmanship
The Congress has the chairman of Adilabad Municipality, but it does not have the most councillors.
The BJP has 21 councillors, while Congress has 11.
BRS and AIMIM each have six councillors, and five are independents.
Some independent councillors reportedly support BJP MLA Payal Shankar.
This makes it difficult for the Congress chairperson to make decisions alone.
The municipality has four co-option positions to fill.
Their selection was postponed twice after councillors raised complaints and political disputes.
Different parties are competing for control of these positions.
Congress holds the chairman post with support from MIM and BRS independents.
The BJP is the largest party, with 21 of the municipality’s 49 councillors.
BJP MLA Payal Shankar reportedly gained independent councillors’ support by funding ward development works.
The election of four co-option members was postponed twice amid disputes and complaints.
Congress, BRS and MIM are seeking co-option posts, while the BJP wants more than two.
- Who
- The Congress, BJP, BRS, AIMIM, independent councillors, municipal chairman Bandari Anusha and BJP MLA Payal Shankar are involved.
- What
- Political competition over control of the Adilabad Municipality has complicated the chairman’s position and delayed the selection of four co-option members.
- When
- The co-option selection was postponed on August 31 and earlier on May 27; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- Adilabad Municipality.
- Why
- The delays and political tensions followed disputes over meeting agendas, alleged land encroachments, law-and-order concerns and competing claims to the co-option posts.
Congress, BRS and AIMIM
BJP and Independent Supporters
Control of the municipality
Congress, BRS and AIMIM
The Congress retains the chairman post with support from BRS and AIMIM, while political circles expected these parties to share the co-option posts.
BJP and Independent Supporters
The BJP is the largest party with 21 councillors and reportedly has the support of independent councillors, strengthening its challenge to the chairman.
Co-option positions
Congress, BRS and AIMIM
BRS district president Jogu Ramanna sought two posts and AIMIM sought one, citing their support for Anusha’s election.
BJP and Independent Supporters
The BJP is seeking more than two co-option posts based on its 21 councillors and support from independent members.
Reasons for postponement
Congress, BRS and AIMIM
Congress, BRS and MIM councillors demanded an inquiry into alleged encroachment of government and assigned lands by Payal Shankar, while other complaints also led to delays.
BJP and Independent Supporters
The election was postponed amid claims that councillors had not received agenda copies and concerns that the meeting could create law-and-order problems.
- Municipality size
- 49 councillors
- Congress strength
- 11 councillors
- BJP strength
- 21 councillors, making it the single largest party
- BRS and AIMIM strength
- Six councillors each
- Independent councillors
- Five
- Co-option posts
- Four posts, with 29 candidates filing nominations
- Chairperson
- Bandari Anusha, an independent candidate and Congress rebel who later joined Congress