Hyderabad, May 28: The Telangana political landscape witnessed a fresh war of words on Tuesday, as the ruling Congress party launched a scathing attack on the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) over an upcoming week-long free coaching programme for Civil Services aspirants. The programme, scheduled to begin on June 2 at the Dr. Marri Channa Reddy Human Resource Development Institute (MCR HRD) in Hyderabad, was announced by the state government as part of its efforts to democratize access to competitive exam training.
However, what was intended as a non-political initiative has quickly turned into a political flashpoint. Senior Congress leaders, including Minister for Education and IT, D. Sridhar Babu, accused the BRS of attempting to “hijack” the narrative of the programme for electoral gains. “This is a classic example of the BRS trying to claim credit for a scheme that is entirely the Congress government’s brainchild. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, we have made this coaching completely free of cost and merit-based. The BRS, which during its decade in power did nothing to address the aspirations of rural youth in competitive exams, is now shedding crocodile tears,” Sridhar Babu said at a press conference in Hyderabad on Monday.
BRS Hits Back: ‘Congress Trying to Cover Up Failures’
The BRS was quick to retaliate. Party leader and former Finance Minister T. Harish Rao, known for his aggressive style, termed the Congress attack as a “diversionary tactic.” In a statement released from his party office in Banjara Hills, Harish Rao questioned the credentials of the Congress government in implementing such programmes effectively. “First, the Congress should answer how many of its promises have been fulfilled in the last six months. This coaching programme is not a favour; it is a constitutional duty of the state. Under K. Chandrashekar Rao’s (KCR) leadership, we had already set up a dedicated Telangana State Public Service Commission coaching centre. The Congress is merely rebranding old ideas. If they want to prove their sincerity, let them release data on how many aspirants from backward districts have actually been enrolled in this programme,” Harish Rao demanded.
He further alleged that the MCR HRD, traditionally a hub for government training, lacked the infrastructure to handle a large number of students for a week-long residential programme. “The Congress is living in a fool’s paradise. They are announcing grand schemes without any ground-level preparation.”
The Programme: A Look Inside the Initiative
According to official sources from the Telangana Social Welfare Department, which is coordinating the event along with the CM’s office, the programme is designed to provide intensive guidance for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It will feature guest lectures from retired IAS officers, current civil servants from the state cadre, and subject matter experts from leading coaching institutes in Delhi. The curriculum will cover General Studies, Essay Writing, and Interview Techniques. Selected candidates from across the state, particularly from economically weaker sections, have been invited to participate free of cost.
“The objective is clear: to ensure that talent from Telangana, especially from rural and tribal areas, does not miss out due to lack of access to quality coaching. This is not about politics; it is about equity,” a senior official from the CM’s office remarked, choosing to remain anonymous.
Political Analysts Weigh In
Political analysts in Hyderabad viewed the spat as a sign of the deepening chasm between the two main parties ahead of future electoral battles. “The Congress is trying to project itself as a party of welfare and opportunity, while the BRS is eager to paint every government move as hollow. This coaching programme, while positive, has become a proxy war for larger narratives of governance,” said Dr. V. Ramakrishna, a political commentator based in Secunderabad.
With the start date of June 2 approaching, both parties are expected to keep the issue alive through public meetings and social media campaigns. For the aspirants, however, the hope remains that the programme delivers on its promise, regardless of the political mudslinging surrounding it. The gauntlet has been thrown, and Telangana’s political theatre is, as always, set for another act.