New Delhi, Feb 14 (NationPress) Prominent Congress figure and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday characterized the party's showing in the Telangana local body elections as a validation of its governance framework focused on welfare, dignity, and inclusive growth.

“A heartfelt thank you to every Congress 'karyakarta' and leader. This triumph is yours and belongs to the people of Telangana,” LoP Gandhi expressed in a message on X.

The ruling Congress achieved nearly 60 percent of the urban local bodies, claiming victory in 64 out of 116 municipalities and three of the seven municipal corporations.

“Our aspiration for a Prajala Telangana, where development touches every household, is steadfast,” Rahul Gandhi affirmed in his X message.

The main opposition party, BRS, secured 13 municipalities and three corporations, while 38 municipalities did not yield a clear majority.

This situation has prompted both Congress and BRS to intensify efforts to garner support from independents and smaller parties in advance of the election for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.

Despite the fragmented results, Congress leaders asserted the party is poised to control approximately three-fourths of the municipalities.

In the last municipal elections of 2020, the then-ruling TRS, now known as BRS, had presided over more than 100 urban local bodies.

The Congress also clinched the Mancherial, Ramagundam, and Nalgonda corporations. In the 60-member Kothagudem corporation, both Congress and the Communist Party of India won 22 seats each, with leaders from both factions describing their competition as friendly.

The BJP did not secure any municipality independently but emerged as the single-largest party in the Karimnagar corporation with 30 seats in the 66-member body. The party also became the largest entity in the Nizamabad corporation.

Both Karimnagar and Nizamabad are among the eight Lok Sabha constituencies represented by the BJP in Telangana. Across all municipalities, Congress won 1,347 of 2,582 wards, whereas BRS secured 717.

The BJP ranked third with 261 wards, while others, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and independents, garnered 256.

In municipal corporations, results were reported for 378 of the 414 divisions. Congress won 177 divisions, BRS 57, BJP 70, and others 74.

The polling took place on Wednesday across 116 municipalities and seven corporations, with an impressive turnout of over 73 percent. Counting commenced at 8 am on Friday under stringent security.