In a bid to prevent unrest, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urged government employees not to resort to strikes, assuring them that their concerns are his top priority. “I consider all employees as my own family. There’s no need for anyone to strike,” he emphasized. Yet, despite his appeal, employee unions have declared their intention to launch protests—raising questions about the forces driving this move.
According to political observers, CM Revanth Reddy’s administration has spent the past 18 months resolving challenges inherited from the previous government. He cautioned employees against making hasty decisions, explaining that the government machinery is only now stabilizing after years of setbacks. However, union leaders have largely dismissed his request and are moving forward with agitation plans.
This development has sparked widespread speculation of a political undercurrent fueling the strike. Unlike the previous BRS government, which maintained close ties with employee unions by offering leadership roles and swiftly approving demands, the current Congress-led government has taken a more measured approach. While CM Revanth has pledged to support employees, he has refrained from political favoritism or quick concessions.
Despite ongoing talks, union leaders have grown impatient over delays in addressing certain demands. Sources reveal that this frustration is particularly evident among union leaders aligned with BRS, raising concerns of political motives behind the strike call.
Interestingly, even though the BRS government didn’t fulfill all promises to employees, unions remained relatively quiet during their tenure. Now, those same unions are intensifying pressure on the Congress government to act swiftly—prompting speculation that BRS-backed leaders may be leveraging the strike to destabilize Revanth Reddy’s administration.
Whereas some of the moderate leaders in the unions suggested that they wait a bit longer to let the government honor promises, there is a report that BRS sympathizer leaders turned down this path, deciding to intensify agitation efforts.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) has made a plan to organize protests at district head offices from May 15 to a giant demonstration of 50,000 employees in Hyderabad on June 9.
Congress sources believe that this restlessness is part of a larger game plan by BRS to challenge the ruling party’s control by rallying union support for political purposes.
As the drama unfolds, the spotlight is on how the Telangana government will navigate this intricate political and administrative challenge in the coming weeks.
