NARAYANPET/TELANGANA, February 10, 2026: A wave of shock has gripped the ongoing Telangana municipal elections after Erukali Mahadevappa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Ward 6 of Makthal Municipality, was found dead on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred on the final day of the high-stakes election campaign, leading to the immediate postponement of polling in the affected ward.
Incident Details: A Grim Discovery
Early Tuesday morning, around 5:30 AM, 46-year-old Mahadevappa was found hanging at his residence in Makthal. According to the Narayanpet police, the candidate took his own life just hours before the campaign window was set to close.
Authorities have moved the body to a local government hospital for a post-mortem examination. A case has been registered, and a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the death is currently underway.
Allegations of Political Harassment
The tragedy has quickly escalated into a political firestorm. The family of the deceased, alongside senior BJP leaders, has alleged that Mahadevappa was a victim of sustained mental harassment and intimidation.
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Family Claims: Relatives stated that Mahadevappa, who hailed from a humble Scheduled Tribe (ST) background, was under immense pressure from political rivals to withdraw his nomination.
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BJP State Unit Reaction: Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao launched a scathing attack on the ruling Congress party. He specifically named local Minister Vakati Srihari and his associates, accusing them of “mafia-style” intimidation.
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Official Statement: “He was a dedicated worker from a marginalized community who dared to contest for democracy,” the BJP state unit said in a statement. “The Congress government, led by CM Revanth Reddy, must be held accountable for this environment of fear.”
Election Commission Postpones Ward 6 Polls
In response to the candidate’s death, Shivayya, the Returning Officer for Makthal Municipality, officially announced the postponement of the election in Ward 6. This decision follows standard electoral protocols which mandate the suspension of polls in the event of a contesting candidate’s death.
Note: While the rest of the Telangana municipal elections proceed as scheduled, the State Election Commission (SEC) is expected to announce a fresh date for Ward 6 in the coming days.
Political Climate in Telangana
This incident highlights the intense rivalry characterizing the 2026 Telangana local body polls. With both the Congress and BJP vying for dominance in the rural and urban pockets of Narayanpet and Mahabubnagar districts, the death of a candidate has raised serious questions regarding the safety and fair participation of contestants.
PingTV will continue to provide live updates as the police investigation progresses and the State Election Commission issues further directives.
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