Congress-BRS face-off over river water disputes expected as Winter Session of Telangana Assembly begins Monday

Hyderabad: The Winter Session of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, commencing on Monday, is poised to witness heated debates and sharp political exchanges.

The river water disputes are said to emerge as the flashpoint between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

Water rights row to dominate session

River water management is expected to top the agenda as the BRS has announced an agitation to protect what it calls ‘Telangana’s water rights.’

The Congress government has responded by throwing an open challenge to the opposition for a comprehensive debate in the Assembly, setting the stage for a stormy session.

KCR returns to spotlight, slams Congress

After largely keeping away from public appearances for nearly two years, BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao recently addressed a press conference, accusing Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of failing to exert pressure on the Union government.

He alleged that this failure resulted in the return of the Detailed Project Report of the Palamuru–Rangareddy irrigation project and branded the Congress government as ‘ineffective.’

CM hits back, throws Assembly challenge

Revanth Reddy reacted strongly, pointing out that KCR himself had largely stayed away from the Assembly during the past two years. Daring the former Chief Minister to attend the session, Revanth Reddy alleged that the BRS leadership had betrayed Telangana’s interests more than the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh.

He asserted that the Congress government was ready for a debate on water issues with documentary evidence.

War of words escalates

The political rhetoric intensified further following KCR’s remark that he would ‘skin’ the Congress government. In a sharp counter, CM Revanth, on December 24, vowed to prevent KCR’s family from returning to power as long as he remained in active politics.

He also expressed confidence that the Congress would form the government again after the next Assembly elections.

Poll promises likely to be raised

Beyond water disputes, the BRS is expected to corner the government over its election promises, including Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance to poor women and one tola of gold for the marriages of economically weaker young women.

The Congress, however, is likely to counter by raising the findings of a judicial commission that examined alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project executed during the BRS regime.

Electoral context adds edge

The charged atmosphere of the session is further sharpened by recent electoral outcomes. The Congress is buoyant after its victory in the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election and a strong showing in the Gram Panchayat elections.

The BRS, while managing a relatively decent performance in rural polls, has struggled since its defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections, drawing a blank in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and losing subsequent Assembly by-elections in Secunderabad Cantonment (2024) and Jubilee Hills (2025).

With political tempers running high and both sides eager to score points, the winter session is expected to be marked by intense debates, sharp exchanges and high-stakes political positioning.