Telangana BJP chief Ramchander Rao ends hunger strike after health scare
Synopsis
Telangana BJP chief N. Ramchander Rao's 48-hour hunger strike ended abruptly on 25 August after a blood pressure drop forced senior party leaders to intervene. The protest spotlights an alleged ₹15,000 crore backlog in student fee reimbursements under the Congress government — a figure the ruling party has yet to publicly contest, and one the BJP is clearly positioning as its sharpest weapon ahead of the next electoral cycle in Telangana.
Key Takeaways
Ramchander Rao , Telangana BJP President, called off his 48-hour hunger strike on 25 August after his blood pressure dropped.
The strike demanded release of pending fee reimbursement dues of nearly ₹15,000 crore , allegedly affecting 40 lakh students .
Laxman offered lemon juice to formally end the fast; senior leaders including former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and MP Eatala Rajender expressed solidarity.
Rajender criticised Chief Minister A.
Revanth Reddy directly, urging him to prioritise student welfare.
The Telangana government has not publicly responded to the ₹15,000 crore dues figure cited by the BJP.
Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President N. Ramchander Rao called off his 48-hour hunger strike on Tuesday, 25 August after his blood pressure dropped, prompting senior party leaders to intervene. The strike, launched on Monday in Hyderabad, demanded that the Telangana state government release pending fee reimbursement dues allegedly worth nearly ₹15,000 crore, affecting an estimated 40 lakh students.
How the Strike Ended
As Ramchander Rao's condition deteriorated, senior BJP leaders urged him to stand down. MP K. Laxman offered him lemon juice to formally break the fast — a customary gesture in Indian political protests. The BJP chief relented, ending the agitation before it crossed its intended two-day mark.
Solidarity from Senior Leaders
Several prominent figures gathered to express support before the strike was called off. Former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, MP Eatala Rajender, BJP floor leader in the Telangana Assembly Maheshwar Reddy, along with party MLAs and other functionaries, stood in solidarity with Ramchander Rao. Rajender directly criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over the pending dues, urging him to 'think about the future of the students.'
What Ramchander Rao Said
On the second day of his fast, Ramchander Rao posted on X, targeting the Congress leadership. 'Neither the 58-year-old self-proclaimed "youth" leader nor his "Ghulam" in Hyderabad can hear the Goonj of Telangana's students. 40 lakh students are suffering, they are unable to pursue higher education or secure jobs because Congress government has failed to clear their fee reimbursement dues,' he wrote.
He further alleged that Congress's positioning as a champion of India's youth was 'nothing but a sham,' warning that students in Telangana were 'ready to teach this Congress government a fitting lesson.' The BJP leader also alleged that the government had 'miserably failed to implement every major promise made to students and youth.'
The Core Demand: Fee Reimbursement Dues
At the heart of the protest is a dispute over fee reimbursement — a scheme under which the state government reimburses tuition fees for students from economically weaker sections enrolled in private colleges. The BJP alleges that the Congress-led Telangana government has accumulated dues of nearly ₹15,000 crore, leaving colleges unpaid and students in limbo. This comes amid broader criticism of the Congress government's handling of welfare commitments since it came to power in Telangana in late 2023.
What Comes Next
With the hunger strike called off, the immediate health crisis has passed, but the political pressure on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is unlikely to ease. The BJP is expected to continue its campaign on the fee reimbursement issue, which it sees as a potent electoral theme ahead of future elections in the state. The Telangana government has not yet publicly responded to the specific ₹15,000 crore dues figure cited by the BJP.
Point of View
000 crore figure remains unverified by any independent audit, and the Congress government's silence on the specific number is itself a political choice. Telangana's fee reimbursement scheme has historically been a flashpoint between governments and private colleges, and successive administrations have struggled to clear backlogs. The real question is whether the BJP can sustain this as an issue beyond the protest, or whether it fades once the cameras leave — as similar agitations have in the past.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Telangana BJP chief N. Ramchander Rao go on a hunger strike?
Ramchander Rao launched a 48-hour hunger strike on Monday, 25 August, demanding that the Telangana state government release pending fee reimbursement dues. The BJP alleges the Congress-led government owes nearly ₹15,000 crore to colleges, leaving 40 lakh students unable to pursue higher education or employment.
Why did Ramchander Rao end his hunger strike?
Ramchander Rao called off the fast on Tuesday after his blood pressure dropped, causing concern among party cadres. Senior BJP leaders advised him to end the strike, and MP K. Laxman offered him lemon juice to formally break the fast.
What is the fee reimbursement scheme at the centre of this dispute?
The fee reimbursement scheme is a state government programme that reimburses tuition fees for students from economically weaker sections enrolled in private colleges. The BJP alleges the current Congress government in Telangana has failed to clear dues of nearly ₹15,000 crore under this scheme.
Who are the key BJP leaders involved in this protest?
Key figures include Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao, who led the fast; MP K. Laxman, who offered lemon juice to end it; MP Eatala Rajender, who criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy; former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya; and BJP Assembly floor leader Maheshwar Reddy.
Has the Telangana government responded to the BJP's demands?
As of the time of reporting, the Telangana government had not publicly responded to the specific ₹15,000 crore dues figure cited by the BJP. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had not issued a formal statement addressing the hunger strike or the reimbursement demands.
