Power plays to pink slips

VRS fuels blame game 

Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi's exit after ministerial spat ignites accusations from BRS of Congress harassment, raising concerns over governance stability.

Political shifts spark Bureaucratic chaos

Since 2014, IAS officers in Telangana face frequent transfers, sidelining, or VRS due to clashes with BRS (2014-2023) and now Congress governments over policies and loyalty.

High-Profile casualties 

Senior Officers like Arvind Kumar transferred to Delhi for alleged leaks to media during BRS regime and now relegated to Disaster Management wing after Congress came to power; Akunuri Murali quit citing discrimination, later given a post by Congress.

Congress era brings new turbulence

Smita Sabharwal transferred after anti-government tweet; mass transfers in 2025 amid protocol issues, highlighting ongoing instability.

Since Telangana's formation in 2014, the state's bureaucracy has navigated a stormy sea of political shifts, with IAS officers often caught in the undertow. Under the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime from 2014 to 2023, and now the Congress government, senior civil servants have faced frequent transfers, side-lining to "loop line" posts, or outright voluntary retirements (VRS) when clashing with political bosses. This trend, fuelled by policy disagreements, leaked documents, or perceived disloyalty, highlights the fragile balance between administrative independence and political allegiance. As one anonymous officer told a news outlet, "It's like walking a tightrope—obey blindly or face the side-lines." For the unversed, Telangana has a cadre strength of 339 AIS officers including 153 IAS officers, 133 IPS officers and 53 IFS officers discharging duties for the Telangana government.

Telangana saw various officers relegated for not aligning with the government's agenda. Take Arvind Kumar, a seasoned IAS officer who, as Principal Secretary for Municipal Administration, clashed with then-TPCC chief and Malkajgiri MP Revanth Reddy over the Outer Ring Road (ORR) toll auction. Reddy accused Kumar of acting as a "BRS agent" for denying him a meeting, leading to Reddy's arrest en route to the secretariat. Kumar issued legal notices, but Reddy warned of counter-action. Earlier to that Arvind Kumar, who was Principal Secretary, Energy faced wrath for allegedly leaking a letter on costly power purchases from Chhattisgarh, resulting in his transfer to Delhi as Resident Commissioner for Telangana Bhavan. Post-2023 Congress victory, Arvind Kumar was shunted to Disaster Management, far from the "thick of things."

Similarly, senior bureaucrat Akunuri Murali quit in 2019 after being sidelined to the low-profile Director General of State Archives. Alleging caste discrimination and lack of meaningful work, took VRS with months left in service, later joining Andhra Pradesh's YSR government as an advisor. After Congress came to power in Telangana, Revanth Reddy invited him and made him the Chairperson of the Telangana Education Commission. Another senior bureaucrat BR Meena, with vast experience, endured routine postings toward his career end under BRS, underutilized despite his vast expertise, before retiring in 2021. Burra Venkatesham, a Telangana native, languished in non-key roles for a decade under BRS but flourished under Congress, securing the prestigious TGPSC Chairman post in November 2024 after opting VRS.

The Congress government's ascent in late 2023 brought its own wave of bureaucratic turbulence.

Smita Sabharwal, tasked with overseeing the 2025 Miss World contest as Tourism Secretary, was abruptly transferred in April 2025 after reposting an AI-generated image critiquing the Kancha Gachibowli land development—seen as anti-government. She was moved to the Telangana Finance Commission, a "non-focal" role, and soon took a long leave for health reasons.

More recently, September 2025 saw mass transfers of IAS and IPS officers amid protocol violations, including Sircilla Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha's shift after a High Court rebuke.

VRS controversies and the blame game

The latest flashpoint is Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi's VRS on October 22, after a reported spat with Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao over liquor policy enforcement. Rizvi's exit ignited a political firestorm, with BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao accusing the Congress of "harassing" bureaucrats into corruption or retirement. Rama Rao claimed multiple officers are fleeing pressure, labeling it a "devil and deep blue sea" dilemma.

Somesh Kumar (1989 batch, Andhra cadre on deputation): Favored under BRS as Chief Secretary (2019-2023) but repatriated to Andhra Pradesh in 2024 after DoPT/CAT orders. Took VRS immediately upon reporting, citing political pressure from both sides; BJP alleged he was a "BRS proxy" for vested interests in projects like Kaleshwaram.

This pattern raises questions about governance stability in Telangana. As political winds shift, bureaucrats increasingly opt for exits over endurance, underscoring the need for insulated civil services. Yet, with probes like the 2024 ORR SIT continuing, the saga of sidelined stars seems far from over.