NARAYANPET, February 10, 2026: The upcoming Telangana Municipal Elections have been struck by a dark cloud of tragedy as Erukali Mahadevappa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Ward 6 in Makthal Municipality, reportedly died by suicide late Monday night. The incident, occurring on February 9, 2026, has sparked a political firestorm in the Narayanpet district, with allegations of political harassment surfacing just before the state heads to the polls on February 11.
Incident Details: What Happened in Chandapur?
Erukali Mahadevappa, 48, a resident of Chandapur village, was found dead at his residence around midnight. Initial reports from the Narayanpet police suggest that the candidate ended his life by hanging.
Local authorities reached the spot in the early hours of Tuesday, shifting the body to a local government hospital for a post-mortem examination. While no suicide note has been officially recovered yet, the timing of the death—falling exactly between the end of the campaign period and the commencement of voting—has raised serious questions.
Family Alleges “Political Harassment” by Congress Leaders
The grief-stricken family of Mahadevappa has leveled grave accusations against the ruling Congress party. His wife and relatives claim that the 48-year-old was under immense psychological pressure due to systemic intimidation and threats from local Congress leaders.
“He was being threatened with false cases and imprisonment if he didn’t withdraw from the race. They wouldn’t stop calling and harassing him,” a family member alleged during a protest following the discovery.
These claims have echoed through Telugu social media circles, with the BJP leadership demanding an immediate and impartial probe into the “mafia-style” politics allegedly being practiced in the region.
Political Context: A High-Stakes Election
The Telangana Municipal Elections 2026, scheduled for February 11, are being fought with unprecedented intensity across 123 urban local bodies.
Key Tensions in the Polls:
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Political Rivalry: Makthal has become a flashpoint for the rivalry between the Congress and the BJP.
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Pattern of Incidents: BJP leaders have pointed to a similar tragedy in October 2025, where leader Eta Madhukar died by suicide in Mancherial, also citing police and political harassment.
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Voter Sentiment: This tragedy cast a shadow over the “silence period” of the election, potentially shifting the electoral mood in the Narayanpet district.
Police Investigation and Current Status
The Narayanpet police have registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPC (unnatural death). Speaking to the media, a senior official stated:
“We are investigating all angles, including political pressure, financial issues, and personal reasons. The call data records (CDR) of the deceased will be analyzed to verify the family’s claims regarding threatening calls.”
As of now, a heavy police contingent has been deployed in Makthal and Chandapur to prevent any law-and-order situations following protests by BJP supporters.
PingTV will continue to bring you live updates on the investigation and the impact on the February 11 polling.
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