Hyderabad, Dec 29 : The winter session of the Telangana Legislative Assembly begins on Monday amid a charged political atmosphere, with sharp confrontations expected between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) over interstate river water disputes, irrigation projects and governance issues.
The session, scheduled to commence at 10.30 am, is likely to be dominated by debates on water-sharing disputes involving the Krishna and Godavari rivers—long-standing flashpoints between Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The issue has once again taken centre stage following fresh political sparring between the two main rivals in the state.
Former chief minister and BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) is expected to make a return to active legislative participation, which would mark his first major appearance in the Assembly since the party’s defeat in the 2023 elections. His presence is expected to sharpen the confrontation, with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy openly challenging him to debate irrigation and water issues on the floor of the House.
The Congress government has stepped up its attack on the previous BRS regime over the collapse of the Medigadda barrage, a key component of the ambitious Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. The project, once showcased as a flagship achievement of the KCR government, is now under multiple probes and is expected to come under intense scrutiny during the session.
Another irrigation initiative—the Palamuru–Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS)—is also set to feature prominently. The BRS has accused the Congress government of neglecting the project and undermining Telangana’s irrigation interests. KCR has alleged that the Congress has “surrendered” the state’s water rights to Andhra Pradesh and failed to stop alleged illegal diversions by the neighbouring state.
The Congress has rejected these charges as political opportunism and has urged the former chief minister to substantiate his claims inside the Assembly rather than through public statements. Revanth Reddy has said the government is ready for a debate “with proofs” and accused the BRS of betraying Telangana’s interests during its decade-long rule.
The session agenda includes discussions on water-sharing arrangements, possible resolutions against Andhra Pradesh’s actions and other contentious issues. The House will adjourn briefly for the New Year and reconvene on January 2.
Adding to the political heat, the phone-tapping scandal allegedly linked to the BRS regime and the ongoing investigations into the Kaleshwaram project are expected to resurface, providing fresh ammunition to the ruling party.
While the BRS is preparing an aggressive offensive to regain political momentum after recent electoral setbacks, the Congress sees the session as an opportunity to consolidate its gains, buoyed by its performance in recent gram panchayat polls and by-elections. The BJP, though a smaller force in the Assembly, remains a factor in the evolving political landscape as it seeks to position itself as an alternative to both the Congress and the BRS.
With high political stakes and sharp rhetoric already setting the tone, the winter session is expected to be a stormy prelude to future electoral battles in the state.
