Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Telangana Congress-BRS Clash Over Rituals, Barrage, Tribute and Postings
In the Indian state of Telangana, two big political teams — the ruling Congress and the opposition BRS — are always trying to do better than each other.
A transport minister quietly stopped a planned strike by gig workers, whose welfare rules are expected to be announced soon.
The government decided to give a special state honour at the funeral of a former MLA from the opposition, which surprised many people.
The two teams also disagree on how tall a new water barrier, called a barrage, should be — the government wants it two metres taller than the opposition planned.
They even fought about rain: Congress leaders said a BRS leader did black magic to stop the rain, which he strongly denied.
Congress said it would hold a special rain prayer, called a Varuna Yagam, at a big dam to cancel out the alleged magic.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister asked government officials to visit schools and sometimes even sleep in the hostels to keep students safe.
During one visit, a district officer sat with children, gave them chocolates, and checked the food and kitchen.
One shy little boy got so overwhelmed he could barely speak, and finally asked for two chocolates.
All these stories show how politics, water, rain, and even school lunches can mix together in Telangana.
Telangana transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar is credited with quietly averting a gig workers' strike that the opposition BRS had backed.
PCCF Vinay Kumar refused to reverse his cancellation of about 25 forest department deputations despite pressure from senior ministers and MLAs.
The Congress government decided to accord state honours at the funeral of BRS activist and former MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy, a tribute to the Telangana movement.
The Congress government wants the Tummidihatti barrage built at 150 metres, two metres higher than the 148-metre height the BRS government had agreed with Maharashtra.
Congress accused BRS leader T. Harish Rao of performing occult rituals to trigger a drought; Rao denied the charge and sent legal notices, while Congress announced a Varuna Yagam at Nagarjunasagar dam.
- Who
- Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the ruling Congress government, and the opposition BRS led by K. Chandrashekar Rao.
- What
- A series of political clashes: an averted gig workers' strike, a forest department postings dispute, state honours for an opposition leader, a barrage height disagreement, and accusations of occult rituals.
- When
- Early August; BRS public meetings are set for August 9-10 and gig workers' welfare rules are expected on August 15.
- Where
- Telangana, India — including Nalgonda, the Nagarjunasagar dam, Nallabelli, Hanamkonda and Komaram Bheem Asifabad district.
- Why
- Rivalry between the ruling Congress and opposition BRS over political credit, governance and the legacy of the Telangana movement.
Congress / ruling government
BRS / critics
Occult ritual accusations
Congress / ruling government
Congress leaders accused senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao of performing occult rituals and black magic at temples in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to trigger a drought in Telangana and weaken the government; the party says it has evidence and is holding a Varuna Yagam at Nagarjunasagar dam to neutralise the alleged effects.
BRS / critics
Harish Rao dismissed the allegations as outrageous and fired back with legal notices against the Congress leaders who made the claims.
Tummidihatti barrage height
Congress / ruling government
The Congress government says a 150-metre barrage, two metres higher than the earlier plan, will remove the need for pumping since water will flow by gravity.
BRS / critics
Critics say the height change is political one-upmanship so the Congress can claim it succeeded where the BRS failed; final approval rests with the Maharashtra government.
Forest department deputations
Congress / ruling government
Senior ministers, including forest minister Konda Surekha, and MLAs urged PCCF Vinay Kumar to retain about 25 deputations approved by his predecessor, upset that their recommendations were disregarded.
BRS / critics
PCCF Vinay Kumar, who assumed charge on June 30, cancelled the deputations and stood his ground despite sustained political pressure — a rare instance of bureaucratic resolve trumping political persuasion.
- State
- Telangana, India
- Ruling party
- Congress
- Opposition
- Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS)
- Chief Minister
- A. Revanth Reddy
- BRS chief
- K. Chandrashekar Rao
- Gig worker welfare rules
- Expected to be announced on August 15
- Tummidihatti barrage height
- 150 metres (Congress) vs. 148 metres (BRS agreement with Maharashtra)
- BRS events
- Public meetings at Nallabelli and Hanamkonda on August 9-10