Hyderabad, Aug 2026 : Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao called off his 48-hour hunger strike on Tuesday after his health deteriorated, as the party continued its protest against the state government over pending fee reimbursement dues for students.
Ramchander Rao had begun the hunger strike on Monday, demanding that the Congress-led Telangana government clear outstanding fee reimbursement payments. The protest was aimed at highlighting what the BJP described as the financial difficulties faced by students and educational institutions because of delayed reimbursements.
On Tuesday, his blood pressure reportedly dropped, prompting concern among party workers and leaders present at the protest site. Senior BJP leaders advised him to end the fast on health grounds.
Senior party leader and MP K. Laxman subsequently offered lemon juice to Ramchander Rao, formally ending his hunger strike.
Several BJP leaders had earlier expressed solidarity with the state party chief. Former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, MP Eatala Rajender, Telangana Assembly BJP floor leader Maheshwar Reddy, along with party MLAs and other leaders, visited the protest site and extended their support.
Rajender sharply criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over the alleged delay in clearing fee reimbursement dues. He urged the Chief Minister to consider the impact of the issue on students and their educational prospects.
Before ending his protest, Ramchander Rao said on X that he had entered the second day of his hunger strike in support of Telangana’s students. He alleged that around 40 lakh students were suffering because of the government's failure to clear fee reimbursement dues.
The BJP leader claimed that pending reimbursements amounted to nearly Rs 15,000 crore, alleging that the delay had affected students seeking higher education and employment opportunities.
Ramchander Rao accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its commitments to students and young people and alleged that the state's education system was facing a serious crisis.
He argued that delays in fee reimbursement were creating uncertainty for students and affecting their ability to continue their studies. He also accused the government of failing to implement what he described as major promises relating to education and employment.
The BJP president further warned the ruling party that continued dissatisfaction among students and youth could have political consequences in the future.
The protest comes amid an intensifying political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress government in Telangana over education, employment and welfare-related issues.
While the BJP has sought to make pending fee reimbursement a major political issue, the state government’s position on the allegations remains central to the ongoing debate over the implementation and funding of student welfare schemes.
With Ramchander Rao ending his fast on medical grounds, the BJP is expected to continue raising the issue through political and legislative platforms, demanding that the government release the pending reimbursements and address concerns raised by students and educational institutions.
