How the Telangana Legislative Council structures its 40-member upper house

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the state capital of Hyderabad, the Telangana Legislative Council serves as the upper house of the state's bicameral legislature. While the Legislative Assembly handles the lower house duties, this body uses a complex, multi-tiered election system to select its members, balancing interests from local authorities to academic professionals.

The Telangana Legislative Council, known locally as the Telangana Śāsana Mandali, has functioned as the upper house of the Telangana Legislature since 2 June 2014. Its creation followed the bifurcation of the state from Andhra Pradesh. The council is composed of exactly 40 members, who are selected through several distinct electoral pathways to ensure diverse representation within the bicameral system. This institution was established following the division of the former Andhra Pradesh state. It operates as a vital component of the regional government's legislative framework.

The composition of the council is divided into specific constituencies. Fourteen members are elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly, while another fourteen are chosen from local authorities constituencies. To represent professional and educational interests, three members are elected from graduate constituencies and three from teacher constituencies. This structure ensures that various sectors of society have a direct voice in the upper house. The remaining members are drawn from specific professional groups. These distinct electoral pathways help maintain a balanced representation of various societal interests.

The legislative sessions are presided over by a chairman, who is elected by the council members themselves. To ensure continuity, a deputy chairman is also elected to preside whenever the chairman is absent. This leadership structure maintains the procedural integrity of the council's debates and decision-making processes within the state capital of Hyderabad. The presiding officer is chosen through an internal vote by the council members. This ensures that the leadership remains accountable to the legislative body.

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