Opposition Turns Heat on Govt Over Welfare Promises Before Budget Session

Ahead of the Telangana Legislative Assembly’s Budget Session beginning February 26, senior BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao intensified pressure on the Congress government, demanding that it allocate funds for welfare promises made during the 2023 elections. Speaking in Siddipet after inaugurating a BRS party office, he said the upcoming budget must reflect commitments to citizens and avoid what he described as “number gimmicks” that lack real implementation.

Harish Rao urged Deputy Chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to ensure budgetary provisions for the Congress party’s much-publicised six guarantees , which were promised to be implemented within 100 days of assuming power. These guarantees included financial assistance for women, enhanced pensions, farmer support, and student welfare measures. He alleged that despite nearly half the government’s tenure passing, many assurances remain unfulfilled, raising concerns about credibility and delivery.

A major focus of his demand was the implementation of ₹2,500 monthly assistance for women under the Mahalakshmi scheme and the enhancement of social security pensions to ₹4,000 . He stated that pension increases are overdue and should benefit the elderly, widows, beedi workers, handloom workers, toddy tappers, AIDS patients, and other vulnerable groups. Telangana’s pension framework, expanded significantly over the past decade, supports millions of beneficiaries, making timely enhancement a critical social protection measure.

The BRS leader also accused the government of neglecting commitments made to Dalits, Backward Classes, students, and farmers . He cited unfulfilled SC Declaration promises, including expanded reservations and effective SC Sub-Plan implementation, and alleged that commitments to Backward Classes including enhanced reservations and substantial annual allocations were sidelined after the elections. He further pointed to pending student financial aid promises and fee reimbursement dues, as well as farmer assurances such as enhanced financial assistance, crop insurance coverage, and crop bonuses.

Criticising previous budget presentations for announcing schemes without ensuring execution, Harish Rao called for a realistic and transparent budget grounded in fiscal accountability. He warned that if allocations for women’s assistance and pension enhancement are not included, the BRS will strongly challenge the government during the Assembly session.

With the budget session approaching, welfare funding and the implementation of election guarantees are set to become central political issues, shaping both legislative debate and public expectations across Telangana.