The year 2025 proved to be a defining period for Telangana’s political landscape, marked by the Congress government’s consolidation of power under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and simultaneous setbacks for the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS). The year witnessed a mix of administrative reforms, strategic electoral wins, internal party strife, legal challenges, and public controversies, shaping the trajectory of the state’s governance and political dynamics.

Caste Survey and Reservation Controversies

The year began with the completion of a comprehensive caste survey in Telangana, initiated in late 2024 and concluded by January 2025. The survey revealed that Other Backward Classes (OBCs) constituted 56.33% of the state’s population, while Muslims accounted for 12.56%, with 10.08% falling under the backward classes category. The findings were presented in the state assembly on February 4, sparking immediate debate and resistance.

Opposition parties, including the BRS and the BJP, rejected the survey, labelling it incomplete and flawed. Even within the ruling Congress, dissent emerged when MLC Teenmaar Mallana publicly rejected the survey, burning a copy of the report on February 5. His act of defiance led to his suspension from the party on March 1, reflecting internal tensions and the challenges of maintaining party discipline.

Building on the survey data, the state legislature passed two Bills aimed at increasing reservation quotas in education, employment, and local bodies to 42%. Because these measures breached the constitutional 50% cap on reservations, the Bills were forwarded to the Centre for inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. In August, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to pressure the Centre into granting Presidential Assent. In the absence of immediate approval, the state government attempted to enhance backward class reservations in local bodies to 42% through an executive order. However, legal challenges ensued, with the Telangana High Court staying the order and the Supreme Court dismissing the state’s appeal against the stay, delaying rural local body elections.

Despite the legal hurdles, the government went ahead with the elections, recognising the urgency due to central grants of ₹3,000 crore for gram panchayats set to expire by March 2026. The elections proved to be a significant victory for Congress, strengthening the party’s grassroots position. Out of 12,727 gram panchayats, Congress and its rebel allies claimed 8,335, approximately 66% of the total, demonstrating strong rural support. According to party analysis, Congress led in 87 of 94 Assembly constituencies, with BRS ahead in six and BJP in one, cementing Revanth Reddy’s political authority in the state.

Scheduled Caste Sub-Classification and Legislative Reforms

Telangana became the first state in India to announce implementation of the Supreme Court’s order allowing sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) to ensure equitable distribution of reservation benefits. In March, the state assembly unanimously passed the Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Bill, dividing the state’s 59 SC communities into three groups to administer the 15% reservation. This legislative milestone reflected the government’s proactive approach to implementing court directives and promoting social equity.

Cabinet Expansions and Political Strategy

The year also witnessed two significant cabinet expansions. In June, the state cabinet inducted three ministers: G Vivek, Adluri Laxman Kumar, and Vakiti Srihari. Vivek was assigned the Labour, Employment, Training, and Factories portfolio, while Laxman Kumar, overseeing minority welfare, was also placed in charge of Nalgonda district. Both Vivek and Laxman Kumar belonged to Scheduled Castes. Srihari, a backward class representative, managed the Khammam district and the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development portfolio.

In November, a second expansion brought former Indian cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin into the cabinet, ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-election necessitated by the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath. The Congress candidate, V Naveen Yadav, defeated BRS nominee Maganti Sunitha by nearly 25,000 votes. Azharuddin’s induction marked the first Muslim representation in Revanth Reddy’s cabinet in nearly two years, addressing criticisms about the government’s lack of inclusivity for the community.

Urban Governance and Strategic Mergers

As part of broader administrative reforms, the Congress government merged 27 urban local bodies with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), creating the largest municipal body in the country in terms of both area and population. This consolidation aimed to streamline urban governance, improve service delivery, and enhance resource allocation for the rapidly expanding city.

Telangana Rising Global Summit and Vision 2047

On December 7, the Congress government marked its second year in office with the Telangana Rising Global Summit, a two-day event highlighting the state’s developmental vision. The summit unveiled the Telangana Rising Vision 2047 document, which set ambitious goals of transforming Telangana into a $3 trillion economy by 2047, with an interim target of $1 trillion by 2034. The initiative reflected the government’s focus on long-term planning, economic growth, and positioning Telangana as a competitive state on the global stage.

Environmental Setback: Kancha Gachibowli Forest Controversy

Despite these achievements, the government faced significant setbacks, particularly the controversy surrounding the Kancha Gachibowli forest near the University of Hyderabad. In March, plans to auction 400 acres of forest land triggered widespread protests from students, opposition parties, and environmental activists. The Supreme Court intervened, directing the government to restore the forest land and halt further clearance. The incident highlighted the delicate balance between development initiatives and environmental conservation, underscoring the need for transparent policymaking.

Opposition Turmoil: BRS Internal Strife

The opposition BRS faced its own political crises throughout 2025. Internal dissent, particularly led by party president K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, became a focal point, creating turbulence within the party structure. The internal revolt, alongside KCR’s return to active politics towards the year’s end, reshaped the party’s strategic direction and leadership hierarchy.

Compounding the challenges for the BRS were legal and administrative probes into alleged irregularities during KCR’s tenure, particularly in the Kaleshwaram dam project. The state Anti-Corruption Bureau issued notices to party working president KT Rama Rao (KTR), while reports from the state vigilance department, the National Dam Safety Authority, and a judicial commission headed by Supreme Court judge PC Ghose highlighted potential irregularities implicating KCR and former irrigation minister T Harish Rao. These developments weakened the party’s public image and distracted from its political mobilisation efforts.

Conclusion

Overall, 2025 was a year in which the Congress government in Telangana consolidated power, strengthened its electoral base, and advanced ambitious legislative and governance initiatives. From the caste survey and expanded reservations to strategic cabinet appointments and urban governance reforms, the administration demonstrated both political acumen and developmental intent. However, legal setbacks, environmental controversies, and the ongoing challenges posed by a fragmented opposition highlighted the complex dynamics of state politics.

As Telangana enters 2026, the Congress government will focus on sustaining its rural and urban victories, implementing long-term economic plans, and navigating the legal and social challenges that continue to shape the state’s political landscape. For the BRS, internal cohesion, leadership clarity, and addressing allegations of past governance lapses will be crucial to regain political relevance and challenge the ruling party effectively. The year 2025 thus serves as a pivotal reference point in Telangana’s political evolution, shaping strategies, alliances, and policy priorities for the years ahead.