Telangana’s “Vote ATM” controversy just got a lot more intense. Revanth Reddy's government being accused of prioritizing own party (Congress) interests over state needs. After Congress swept the municipal elections—winning over 70% of the urban wards and tightening its grip ahead of the Greater Hyderabad polls—Revanth Reddy’s government now faces fresh heat. Critics accuse Congress of putting the national party’s interests above Telangana’s own needs.
KTR’s Musi March
BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao took the fight to the streets this week, leading a 10-kilometer march along the Musi River to protest the Gandhi Sarovar project and its demolition drive. Residents facing eviction joined him, worried that over 5,000 families in low-income housing by the river could lose their homes. KTR didn’t hold back—he called the demolitions a “land grab conspiracy” and promised BRS workers would “stand before bulldozers” if needed. The protest gathered thousands, and BRS used the spotlight to claim the state is draining its resources to fund Congress’s national campaigns, instead of fixing local problems like the ongoing irrigation crisis in Palamuru-Rangareddy.
Row Over Six Guarantees
The sharpest criticisms targeted Congress’s Six Guarantees, especially the Rythu Bharosa scheme. That plan promises Rs 12,000 a year to 70 lakh farmers, but delays have pushed payments from January to an uncertain March. KTR accused Reddy of turning the scheme into a “Rahul Bandhu” scam, alleging that Rs 1,000 crore a month gets siphoned from Telangana’s coffers to Congress headquarters in Delhi. He pointed to unverified audit reports and a glaring Rs 5,000 crore shortfall in farmer payments since December 2025, according to the Telangana Agriculture Department. All this, while Krishna river water-sharing disputes with Andhra Pradesh remain unresolved, has sparked talk of “pro-Andhra favouritism.”
Social media’s on fire. Hashtags like #TelanganaVoteATM and #SaveMusiHomes have clocked over two million impressions in just two days, fuelled by BRS accounts posting demolition and protest videos. Political analysts see the uproar as an early sign of anti-incumbency, even after Congress’s big win. BRS is tapping into local frustrations and memories of old bifurcation wounds, hoping to chip away at Congress’s 2023 assembly vote share of 52%.
Legal Binding for Poll Promises
Inside Congress, there’s growing anxiety. Leaders talk about fast-tracking Rythu Bandhu payments and are planning to announce an Rs 2,000 crore Musi rehabilitation package soon. But with BRS readying a legislative push to make the “guarantees” legally binding, the fight looks set to get even messier. Revanth Reddy will have to juggle state priorities and party demands, with the next big election only four years away.
