Opinion: Congress’ silent grudge: Why is Ranga Reddy district being punished?
From Cabinet denial to economic neglect, Congress’ treatment of Ranga Reddy district signals a clear message: back the opposition, and face the consequences
By Nayini Anurag Reddy
In any democracy, regional balance in governance is both a principle and a promise. But today in Telangana, that promise stands broken, especially in Ranga Reddy, a district that has contributed immensely to the State’s growth and stability, yet now finds itself deliberately neglected.
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From denial of cabinet representation, to the crippling of its economy, and betrayal of its farmers, the Congress government’s approach appears less like governance and more like retribution. Not for any wrongdoing, but for the political clarity and consistency shown by this district’s voters.
A Calculated Exclusion
Let’s begin with the most glaring fact. Ranga Reddy, Telangana’s most populous and urbanised district, has no representation in the State Cabinet. This is not just a missed opportunity, it is a message. A message that if a district dares to support the opposition, it will be kept out of the decision-making table.
While some regions were rewarded with two or even three ministers, this critical district, home to Hyderabad’s growth corridors, thousands of small entrepreneurs, farmers, and working-class families, has been completely sidelined.
Even Congress’ own MLA from Ibrahimpatnam, Malreddy Ranga Reddy, publicly expressed his disappointment, reminding the leadership that previous governments always ensured fair representation to the region.
Real Estate Crisis, A Manufactured Slowdown
Over the last decade, BRS transformed the Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy corridor into one of India’s most vibrant real estate zones. But within just one year of Congress rule, that momentum has collapsed.
According to market data, residential sales in Hyderabad dropped by 47 per cent in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, falling from over 20,800 units to just 11,100. New project launches fell even further, down 55 per cent, from nearly 23,000 units to just above 10,000. Commercial leasing too declined by over 40 per cent, signalling a broader climate of investor anxiety.
Developers blame not just market forces, but a complete failure of governance. Demolition drives were launched without proper communication or legal clarity, creating panic instead of stability. Buyers were left unsure, and genuine builders were forced into a freeze. The government failed to provide the confidence the industry needed.
To make matters worse, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s repeated negative remarks about Telangana’s Economy and past development have only deepened investor distrust. When a leader keeps running down his own State’s institutions, calling past progress hollow and investments misguided, it should come as no surprise that capital starts looking elsewhere.
This is not an economic downturn, it is a politically-engineered paralysis. And it is hitting precisely where the BRS roots are strong and voters stood firm.
Rythu Bandhu, Or Rythu Betrayal?
The welfare of farmers should never be subject to politics. But in today’s Telangana, even this sacred trust appears conditional.
Under the BRS government, Rythu Bandhu was not just a scheme, it was a covenant with the farmer. Predictable, timely, and universal. Now rebranded as Rythu Bharosa, the scheme is caught in confusion. Farmers in key mandals across Ranga Reddy reported delayed or denied payments, until protests forced the government’s hand.
Is this accidental? Or is it part of the same pattern, where areas known for their BRS allegiance are put at the bottom of the welfare queue? Welfare shouldn’t depend on vote shares. But increasingly, it seems in Telangana today, it does.
Future City, Forgotten Farmers
Perhaps no betrayal is more symbolic than what has happened with Pharma City.
Before the elections, the Congress promised to return lands acquired for the project back to the farmers. But after coming to power, not only was the promise abandoned, the project was quietly renamed as ‘Future City’, without any consultation with the landowners or stakeholders involved.
The critical district, home to Hyderabad’s growth corridors, thousands of small entrepreneurs, farmers, and working-class families, has been completely sidelined by the Revanth Reddy-led government
This abrupt rebranding has triggered confusion and outrage. Farmers who had given up their land in good faith feel misled. The lack of clarity has also brought all surrounding development to a halt. Investors are withdrawing, infrastructure has stalled, and a region once poised for industrial growth now sits in limbo.
This was not a name change. It was a betrayal. Instead of resolving long-standing concerns, the government chose to repackage the problem, hoping the headlines would move on. But the people on the ground have not.
Palamuru Ranga Reddy Project, Pipeline of Neglect
The Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme was designed to bring drinking water and irrigation to some of Telangana’s driest districts. Under the BRS government, the project had achieved significant progress, with the Narlapur pump house inaugurated in September 2023.
Since then, momentum has stalled. Approvals remain pending, funding is frozen, and timelines have been quietly pushed far into the future. The government is now speaking of completion by late 2026 or beyond, leaving thousands of farmers waiting for what was once just months away.
This delay is not due to complexity, but due to a lack of urgency and will. The people here deserve better than indifference.
A Dangerous Precedent
This is not how governance should function. What we are witnessing is a dangerous precedent where electoral outcomes are being used to punish districts, delay development, and deny dignity.
Telangana was created to correct injustice, not perpetuate it. The Congress government must remember, governments change, but districts do not forget. And Ranga Reddy is watching.
It is time to end this politics of exclusion. Balanced growth, fair representation, and dignity for farmers cannot be luxuries offered only to politically convenient regions. They are constitutional duties.
Ranga Reddy will not be silenced. Nor will those who still believe in Telangana’s founding values of equity and justice.
(The author is an MBA graduate, entrepreneur, and policy enthusiast working to highlight governance gaps & public grievances)
