Elections on the horizon: Telangana government’s stunning move to merge TSRTC

In an electrifying and unprecedented move, the State Cabinet of Telangana approved the merger of the TS Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) with the state government on Monday, fulfilling a long-standing demand that seemed impossible only two years ago. A whopping 43,372 TSRTC employees will now reap all the benefits enjoyed by state government staff. The government is prepared to introduce a Bill to legalize the merger in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly, beginning on August 3.

The sensational decision, a major U-turn by the government, comes just before the elections and in stark contrast to the CM K Chandrasekhar Rao’s previous statements during the 52-day strike in 2019. Back then, he had dismissed the possibility of such a merger.

IT minister KT Rama Rao, briefing the media on the thrilling Cabinet decisions, remarked how the CM had finally accomplished the long-desired dream of the RTC employees, recognizing them as state government employees.

Long-awaited TSRTC merger approved: Telangana govt acts ahead of elections. Photo courtesy of LOVEofZ/Wikimedia Commons.

Alongside the exhilarating merger, the Cabinet also approved nominations under the Governor’s quota and allocated an astonishing ₹500 crore as rain relief. The decision was made to extend an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of those who tragically lost their lives during recent floods.

In a series of decisions reflecting the government’s commitment to the people of Telangana, the Cabinet also approved the construction of a reinforced cement concrete (RCC) wall to shield Khammam town from flooding in the Munneru river.

But that’s not all! The Cabinet cleared the reintroduction of three Bills previously rejected by the Governor, sparking fierce criticism from KT Rama Rao. The minister did not hold back, lashing out at the Governor for allegedly playing politics. The three bills in question related to various governmental functions, including municipal affairs, education, and panchayat raj.

The dramatic twists and turns in the Telangana government’s decisions have left the entire state in a state of anticipation and excitement. With an eye on the upcoming elections, the government’s bold and unexpected actions promise to reshape the political landscape of the state.