Telangana Graduate MLC polls: Congress names candidates for both seats
Synopsis
Congress has moved early in Telangana's Graduate MLC race, naming both its candidates over five months before the March 2027 vacancies fall due. With BRS Working President KT Rama Rao already mobilising voters and the ECI requiring fresh enrolment from all graduates, the battle for these prestigious upper-house seats is beginning well ahead of schedule.
Key Takeaways
Congress named Sama Rammohan Reddy for the Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad seat and Ramreddy Sarvotham Reddy for the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda seat on 30 September 2026 .
Names were approved by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and announced by AICC General Secretary K.C.
Voter enrolment began 29 September 2026 ; all graduates must re-register with 1 November 2026 as the qualifying date.
Registration deadline is 6 November 2026 ; draft rolls publish 25 November , final rolls on 30 December 2026 .
BRS Working President K.T.
Rama Rao registered as a voter in Hyderabad and urged eligible graduates to enrol before the deadline.
Two Telangana Legislative Council vacancies are due in March 2027 , per the Election Commission of India .
The Indian National Congress on Tuesday, 30 September 2026, announced its candidates for the upcoming biennial elections to the Telangana Legislative Council from the two Graduates' constituencies. The names were cleared by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and communicated through a statement by All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary K.C. Venugopal.
Who the Candidates Are
Sama Rammohan Reddy has been fielded as the party's candidate from the Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad Graduates' constituency. Ramreddy Sarvotham Reddy will contest on a Congress ticket from the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates' constituency. The announcement marks the party's early move to consolidate its position in a state it won from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the 2023 assembly elections.
Election Schedule and Voter Enrolment
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has confirmed that two vacancies are due in March 2027 and must be filled through biennial elections. Voter enrolment in both Graduates' constituencies commenced on Monday, 29 September 2026, following the issue of a public notice under Rule 31(3) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C. Sudharsan Reddy has urged all eligible graduates to register as voters. Notably, even those previously registered must enrol afresh, as the electoral rolls are being prepared from scratch with 1 November 2026 as the qualifying date. Draft electoral rolls are set to be published on 25 November 2026, with final rolls due on 30 December 2026.
Eligibility Criteria for Voters
To register as a voter in a Graduates' constituency, an applicant must have completed a degree or an equivalent diploma at least three years before the qualifying date of 1 November 2026. The applicant must also be an ordinary resident of the area covered by the relevant constituency. The registration deadline is 6 November 2026.
BRS Weighs In on Voter Registration
BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao registered as a voter in Hyderabad on Monday and appealed to all eligible graduates in both constituencies to complete their voter registration before 6 November. He emphasised that every vote is crucial in Graduate MLC elections, urging graduates to fill out the application form and participate in what he described as an important democratic exercise. This comes amid the BRS seeking to rebuild its political standing after its 2023 assembly election defeat.
What Happens Next
With Congress having declared its candidates early and BRS actively mobilising voters, political activity in both Graduate constituencies is set to intensify. The actual election date has not yet been announced by the ECI, but the March 2027 vacancy deadline makes a poll in early 2027 likely. Other parties are expected to announce their candidates as the enrolment process progresses.
Point of View
Highly mobilised elections. Graduate MLC contests are rarely won on ideology; they are won on voter-registration drives and community networks, which is why KT Rama Rao's personal enrolment appearance matters more than it might seem. The BRS, still rebuilding after 2023, has an incentive to treat these niche elections as a credibility test. The real contest may not be at the ballot box but in the enrolment numbers over the next five weeks.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Congress candidates for the Telangana Graduate MLC elections?
Congress has named Sama Rammohan Reddy for the Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad constituency and Ramreddy Sarvotham Reddy for the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda constituency. The names were approved by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on 30 September 2026.
When is the deadline to register as a voter for the Telangana Graduate MLC election?
The deadline to register as a voter is 6 November 2026 . The electoral rolls are being prepared afresh with 1 November 2026 as the qualifying date, and even previously registered voters must re-enrol.
When will the Telangana Graduate MLC elections be held?
The Election Commission of India has not yet announced a specific election date, but the two vacancies are due in March 2027 . Based on the enrolment and roll-publication schedule, the election is expected in early 2027.
Who is eligible to vote in the Telangana Graduates' constituencies?
Any person who completed a degree or equivalent diploma at least three years before the qualifying date of 1 November 2026, and who is an ordinary resident of the relevant constituency area, is eligible to register and vote.
What role is the BRS playing in the Graduate MLC election process?
BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao registered as a voter in Hyderabad on 29 September 2026 and urged all eligible graduates in both constituencies to complete their registration before 6 November 2026, calling graduate voter participation crucial to the democratic process.
