Public anger rises across Telangana; Congress MLAs, Ministers confronted directly

As local body polls near, Congress leaders across Telangana are facing protests over unfulfilled promises, land acquisition, fertiliser shortages, and housing allotment issues. Public discontent is rising in both urban and rural areas, with confrontations becoming increasingly common

Hyderabad: With local body elections fast approaching, several Congress MLAs and Ministers are facing public backlash across the State. Discontent is brewing in both urban and rural areas, with people directly confronting elected representatives on various issues.

In some locations, residents have raised objections over irregularities in the allotment of Indiramma houses. Elsewhere, Congress leaders are struggling to placate farmers over a severe shortage of urea. At other places, anger is mounting over land acquisition and inadequate compensation.

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The Congress government’s promise to extend 42 percent reservations to Backward Classes (BCs) has also become a thorny issue, triggering unrest among different sections.

Last Friday, farmers affected by the Narayanpet–Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme confronted Animal Husbandry Minister Vakiti Srihari. They made it clear they would not surrender their lands unless the government promised compensation at market rates. They demanded that all land acquisition proceedings be halted until a formal assurance was given.

In Ibrahimpatnam, residents and farmers who lost land for Pharma City staged a protest outside local MLA Malreddy Rangareddy’s residence. They demanded that the Congress government fulfil its election promise of halting land acquisition for Pharma City and its related infrastructure projects.

Similar protests erupted elsewhere over alleged irregularities in Indiramma housing allotments and delays in bill clearances.

In Bhimaram mandal of Mancherial district, agitated residents raised slogans against the Congress, alleging that party workers were being included in beneficiary lists while genuine claimants were ignored. They held a demonstration during a programme attended by Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy.

Such incidents have been reported from Khammam, Nalgonda, Karimnagar and other erstwhile districts as well.

Over the past month, farmers across the State have been staging protests demanding adequate urea supplies. In Illapuram, Jagtial district, farmers confronted Congress leaders over their failure to ensure timely fertiliser distribution.

Urban areas have also witnessed growing public frustration. On Monday, Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao and Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy were confronted by residents of Vinayak Nagar in Shaikpet.

The residents, mostly women, sought answers on the delay in implementing the Congress government’s six guarantees, including distribution of ration cards, Rs.500 gas cylinders, 200 units of free power, and the promised Rs.2,500 monthly financial assistance.

As the Mayor attempted to counter their questions, the women hit back, highlighting the government’s failure to deliver on its promises.

Residents also criticised the timing of development works in the Jubilee Hills constituency, alleging that Congress leaders were only visible now due to the impending by-election and were laying foundation stones to gain public favour.