He accused the government of undermining the principles of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which promotes democratic decentralisation and empowers local self-governance.The opposition leader pointed out that the merger—encompassing 20 municipalities and seven municipal corporations—was executed without adequate consultations with citizens or elected representatives. He described the lack of ward-level discussions and prior engagement with corporators as a clear breach of democratic processes.
BRS Voices Alarm Over Potential Union Territory Status for Hyderabad Amid GHMC MergerHyderabad, January 3, 2026 – The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has expressed serious apprehensions that the Congress-led Telangana government’s decision to integrate 27 urban local bodies into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) could inadvertently pave the way for Hyderabad to be declared a Union Territory (UT).
During a heated discussion in the Telangana Legislative Council on amendments to the Telangana Municipalities Act and the GHMC Act, BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan highlighted circulating reports about such a possibility. He criticised the Revanth Reddy administration for its hasty approach, warning that it was lending credence to these speculations.Sravan emphasised that Hyderabad, as the economic powerhouse of Telangana, should not be subjected to unilateral governance changes lacking broad public support.
He accused the government of undermining the principles of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which promotes democratic decentralisation and empowers local self-governance.The opposition leader pointed out that the merger—encompassing 20 municipalities and seven municipal corporations—was executed without adequate consultations with citizens or elected representatives. He described the lack of ward-level discussions and prior engagement with corporators as a clear breach of democratic processes.
Sravan further cautioned against over-centralisation of authority, arguing that sidelining local voices and prioritising Hyderabad’s expansion would stifle balanced regional growth across the state. He noted that the government’s emphasis on enlarging the capital was diverting resources from other districts, exacerbating imbalances and potentially diluting Hyderabad’s unique cultural heritage, including its renowned “Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb.”
The BRS has consistently opposed the GHMC expansion, labelling it undemocratic and politically motivated, while the Congress government defends the move as essential for uniform urban planning, improved infrastructure, and efficient administration in the rapidly growing metropolitan area.The amendments were passed in the Legislative Assembly amid protests, with debates extending to related issues like regional development and civic reforms.
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