The ruling Congress in Telangana and opposition parties BRS and BJP have stepped up their exchanges, challenging one another to open debates on issues such as state finances and alleged corruption.
The latest round began after BRS, led by former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, accused the Congress government of causing large losses to the public treasury by favouring certain firms in tenders for supplies to Gurukul schools for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students.
Congress dismissed the claims and said the previous BRS administration had left the state in a severe financial crisis. BJP criticised both parties for failing to use central funds effectively for development.
On July 2, four state ministers went to the Telangana Martyrs’ Memorial at Gun Park in Hyderabad to demand a debate with BRS leaders. Police stopped BRS figures from reaching the site.
The next day BJP said it would prevail over both rivals in any public discussion.
Congress excise minister Jupally Krishna Rao challenged BRS working president K T Rama Rao to have his father prove that Telangana did not inherit a debt burden of Rs 8.2 lakh crore. He offered to resign if shown wrong and detailed how direct debt rose sharply between 2014 and 2023, along with unpaid bills and power dues.
BRS rejected the figures, citing a CAG report that put outstanding debt at Rs 2.8 lakh crore when it left office. It called for a special assembly session and alleged irregularities in recent Gurukul tenders.
BJP state president N Ramchander Rao said the party was ready to expose both Congress and BRS in a public forum.
