 employees and the state government concluded successfully){kind=link}
Strike withdrawn after marathon talks; tragedy of driver’s death casts shadow over resolution
April 25, 2026: Talks between Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) employees and the state government concluded successfully, leading to the end of the indefinite strike that began on April 22. After extensive discussions between the employees’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) and a cabinet sub-committee, the government agreed to key demands, including a proposed merger of RTC with the government, an 11% pay revision, and conducting union elections. A joint committee of officials and employee representatives will be formed to work out the merger process, while other pending issues are also set to be addressed.
Following the agreement, employees decided to call off the strike, with RTC bus services expected to resume shortly. The resolution, however, comes amid a tragic development. A 55-year-old RTC driver, Shankar Goud, who attempted self-immolation during a protest in Warangal district, succumbed to his injuries. His death led to tension in his native village Muttojipet, where family members and colleagues wanted to take his body to the Narsampet bus depot for final respects, but police denied permission citing law-and-order concerns.
The incident triggered protests and criticism from political leaders, including Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who accused the government of hurting public sentiments. Meanwhile, the state government announced an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh, a house, and a government job for Goud’s family. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed condolences, as authorities worked to restore normalcy following both the strike resolution and the unrest linked to the driver’s death.