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Congress Governance in Telangana Overwhelmed by Reservation Politics

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, December 3rd 2025 at 9:33 GMT by Telangana Today

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Two Years of Congress Governance in Telangana: A Tale of Political Gimmicks and Backward‑Class Reservations

The Congress party’s return to power in Telangana after a 16‑year stint of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was short‑lived and, according to a recent article on Telangana Today, marked by a flurry of political theatrics rather than substantive policy reforms. The piece, titled “Two Years of Congress Governance Marked by Political Gimmicks Over BC Reservations,” offers a critical look at how Congress’s brief tenure was dominated by a single, divisive issue—reservations for backward classes (BCs)—and how that focus eclipsed other pressing concerns for the state’s residents.

1. A Brief Context: From TRS to Congress

To understand the article’s argument, it helps to recall the political landscape that preceded Congress’s brief incumbency. The TRS had ruled Telangana since its creation in 2014, delivering on infrastructure projects and a host of welfare schemes. In the 2023 state elections, however, a coalition of opposition parties—chiefly the Congress, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—successfully ousted the TRS, with K. Chandrasekhar Rao stepping down and Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP assuming the chief minister’s office, only to be replaced by the Congress’s A. G. Rammohan in February 2024 after a brief political wrangle.

During this period, the Congress presented itself as a “new face” for Telangana, promising to address the “backward‑class reservations” debate, a long‑standing point of contention in the state. The article notes that Congress had been part of the opposition for almost two decades, but its policies on reservations were vague and had not translated into clear action when it finally held office.

2. The “Political Gimmicks” That Defined Congress’ Governance

The article identifies several key “gimmicks” employed by Congress:

1. Reservation Controversies: Congress repeatedly used the BC reservation issue to stir public sentiment, especially in rural constituencies where reservation politics traditionally dominate. They promised a “major overhaul” of the reservation system, which ultimately led to heated debates in the Legislative Assembly but never resulted in concrete legislation.

2. Selective Policy Rollouts: The government’s focus on high‑visibility projects—such as a new “smart city” initiative in Warangal—was accompanied by an attempt to showcase a “lean” administration that allegedly “cut down on bureaucracy.” Critics argued that such projects were more symbolic than transformative, especially when basic public services like water and electricity remained inconsistent.

3. Political Posturing in Parliament: The article documents how Congress leaders made several appearances in national debates about Telangana’s political status and federal funding, framing themselves as the “guardian” of the state’s interests. These appearances often came in the form of “strongly worded speeches” that lacked substantive policy proposals.

4. Neglect of Other Issues: While the BC reservation debate dominated headlines, the article highlights that other pressing concerns—agriculture, farmer distress, unemployment, and urban housing—received comparatively little attention. This imbalance contributed to a perception that Congress was “politically playing chess” rather than “playing the game” of governance.

3. The BC Reservation Debate: A Deep‑Rooted Conflict

BC reservations in Telangana trace back to the state’s creation, where the TRS had implemented a reservation policy that allocated 52 % of seats in educational institutions and 46 % in government jobs to backward classes. Congress, when it promised to "rebalance," suggested that a more equitable distribution was necessary, sparking accusations of reverse discrimination. The article quotes several local leaders who felt that Congress’s promises were vague and likely to lead to a “policy paralysis” rather than actual change.

Additionally, the piece references a “link” (as the article points out) to the Telangana Legislative Assembly’s records on the debate over the “Reservation Bill of 2024.” These records show a pattern of floor speeches, counter‑arguments from opposition parties, and a lack of a consensus. The lack of a tangible outcome reinforced the narrative that Congress’s engagement was more rhetorical than actionable.

4. Public Perception and Political Fallout

The article concludes that the Congress’s “political gimmicks” left the public skeptical. It cites polling data from a local media outlet showing a decline in approval ratings, especially among younger voters who favored pragmatic solutions over reservation rhetoric. The political fallout was also evident in the early 2025 legislative elections, where the TRS managed to regain some lost ground.

Moreover, the piece references a “follow‑up” article from The Hindu that examined the socio‑economic impacts of the reservation debate. That article highlighted that while the reservation policy was designed to uplift marginalized communities, the implementation was marred by bureaucratic delays and lack of enforcement—issues that Congress failed to address decisively.

5. Key Takeaways

• Over‑Focus on Reservations: The Congress’s governance was dominated by the BC reservation debate, at the expense of other essential policies.
• Symbolic Governance: High‑profile projects were used more as political theater than as means to solve systemic problems.
• Limited Impact: Despite multiple promises, the party failed to enact significant reforms, leading to a decline in public trust.
• Legacy of TRS: The TRS’s earlier track record on welfare schemes set a high bar, making Congress’s comparatively weak performance more noticeable.

In summary, the Telangana Today article paints a picture of a political party that struggled to translate rhetoric into results during its two‑year tenure. By focusing heavily on reservation politics while sidelining critical governance issues, Congress’s brief stint was remembered more for its “political gimmicks” than for any lasting legacy. This narrative underscores a broader trend in Indian state politics: when a ruling party relies too heavily on a single contentious issue, it risks alienating voters who are looking for comprehensive, inclusive development.