The Winter Session of the Telangana Assembly is expected to witness high political drama, with the ruling Congress and opposition parties gearing up for sharp confrontations on multiple issues.
The duration of the session will be finalised at a meeting of the Legislature’s Business Advisory Council, which includes representatives from all parties.
While the main opposition BRS has demanded a minimum of 15 working days, the BJP has insisted on a session lasting at least 30 days.
Irrigation projects and inter-state river water sharing are expected to dominate the proceedings.
Adding to the political buzz, the BRS has announced that its president and former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) is likely to attend the Assembly on Monday.
The Congress, which has sought explanations from KCR, has accused the former chief minister of mismanagement and neglect, particularly with regard to the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) and the protection of Telangana’s share of Krishna and Godavari river waters.
Given the focus on irrigation, senior BRS leader and former irrigation minister T. Harish Rao is expected to lead the party’s defence on these issues.
Meanwhile, the Congress government is said to be fully prepared with a detailed presentation on river water sharing and key irrigation projects, including PRLIS, countering the allegations raised by KCR.
The BRS has demanded an opportunity to present its own version on irrigation-related matters. However, it remains unclear whether this will be permitted, as the Congress was denied a similar counter-presentation when the BRS was in power.
Both the Congress and the BRS are expected to firmly defend their respective positions, while the BJP, which holds both parties responsible for irrigation-related problems, is likely to target them equally.
Other issues such as the expansion of the GHMC limits, the Telangana Rising 2047 summit, farmers’ concerns, and unfulfilled promises are also expected to be raised.
However, how many of these issues will actually be taken up will largely depend on the final duration of the session.