Guarantees, Godavari and Musi set the tone as Telangana budget session begins Monday

The Telangana State Legislature’s budget session begins Monday, with Congress and BRS poised for sharp confrontations over welfare guarantees, irrigation projects, and the Musi riverfront development. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla will address the joint sitting, while the State budget of Rs 3.2 lakh crore is scheduled for March 20.

Hyderabad: The budget session of the Telangana State Legislature will commence on Monday amid indications of a short but politically charged sitting. The ruling Congress and the opposition BRS are preparing to lock horns on welfare guarantees, irrigation projects, and the Musi riverfront development.

This session assumes significance as both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council will function from the same building for the first time after the renovation of the Town Hall, which earlier hosted only joint sessions for the Governor’s address.

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Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, who recently took charge, will address the joint sitting on the opening day Monday. The government will also unveil the statue of Telangana Talli on the Assembly premises. The State budget for 2026-27 is scheduled to be presented on March 20, with an estimated outlay of around Rs 3.2 lakh crore.

Along with the budget, the government is likely to introduce key bills, including legislation on social security for gig workers and a bill to deduct 10-15 per cent from the salaries of government employees who fail to take care of their elderly parents.

The BRS is likely to push for a private member bill seeking legal backing for the Congress’s six election guarantees as promised in the Congress election manifesto. Party working president KT Rama Rao said the move was intended to force the ruling party to honour its promises made to voters.

The Congress is learnt to be readying short discussions on irrigation projects, particularly those linked to the Godavari River, and on the Musi riverfront development. A discussion on the shortage of LPG and petroleum products amid the Middle East conflict is also likely.

While the government is reportedly keen to wrap up business within ten days, the opposition is expected to demand a longer sitting of at least three weeks. A clarity is expected on Monday, when the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will finalise the schedule.

The Musi riverfront project is expected to be the main flashpoint, with the BRS planning to raise demolitions, displacement of families and recent action at Velugumatla in Khammam district and other parts of the State. The party is also preparing a privilege motion against the Chief Minister, accusing him of misleading the House on the project.

In addition, the opposition plans to raise issues such as crop holidays, delay in Rythu Bharosa payments, water shortage ahead of summer, pending salaries and retirement benefits for employees, mounting debt burden, and stalled irrigation projects, setting the stage for a stormy budget session.