Hyderabad:

The headmistress of a government school in Ranga Reddy district in Telangana was suspended for allegedly allowing the birthday of BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao to be celebrated on the school premises.

The 71st birthday of Rao, also known as KCR, was celebrated on Monday.

The disciplinary action against the headmistress was taken as political slogans and such other activity cannot take place on the premises of a school, disturbing the classes, official sources said on Tuesday.

The headmistress should take prior approval from senior officials (for events), they said.

The birthday function, also involving students, was reportedly organised on the school premises by an ex-corporator on Monday.

BRS Working President K T Rama Rao found fault with the suspension of the headmistress.

Alleging that official honours and protocols were given earlier to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s brother and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka’s wife, though they don’t hold any official positions, he said is it wrong to “distribute sweets to students” on the occasion of the birthday of KCR, the former Chief Minister.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

A corruption case has been filed against KT Rama Rao, former minister of Telangana and the son of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, over alleged irregularities in Formula E race held at Hyderabad in February 2023. The Anti-Corruption Bureau, which filed the case, has alleged that Rs 55 crore was allegedly transferred to Formula E organisers on the verbal orders of Mr Rao. 

Mr Rao has alleged that he is being targeted by the Congress government of Revanth Reddy, which came to power in the state last year, ending the 10-year rule of Mr Rao’s party, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi or BRS.

But on November 7, he said he was ready to face any inquiry. “It is the governor’s discretion. I have no objection if the governor gives permission for prosecution. We welcome it. We are ready for any inquiry,” he had told reporters.

In October this year, the Anti-Corruption Bureau had sought Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma’s nod to investigate KTR in the Formula E case.

Sources said former Municipal Administration and Urban Development principal secretary Arvind Kumar has admitted transferring Rs 55 crore to the event organisers on the verbal orders of the former minister who held the portfolio.

The irregularities in the transfer were multiple. Not only was the transfer made on verbal orders, it circumvented the cabinet approval and was done after elections were announced in Telangana without taking permission of the Election Commission.

It has also been alleged that the payment was made in pounds without the clearance of the Reserve Bank of India.

Mr Rao, who is also known as KTR, also held the Industry portfolio under the previous government headed by his father and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao. 

To conduct seasons nine,10,11 and 12 of the Formula E Race, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department or MAUD, had signed a tripartite agreement with Formula E Organisers (FEO) and Ace Nxt Gen Pvt limited in 2022. The ninth season of the car race was held in Hyderabad on February 10 and 11, 2023 and the next one scheduled for February 2024.

The promoter, Ace Nxt Gen, then dropped out, citing losses. 
Since the FEO was willing to organise the next season, Arvind Kumar transferred Rs 55 crore – including Rs 9 crore as taxes – to it, allegedly on the verbal order of Mr Rao.

After the Congress came to power last year, the Formula E Organisers pulled out and cancelled the February race.

Hyderabad:

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy decided on Friday to rename the Yadadri temple Yadagiri temple, reversing the decision of his predecessor K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

On his birthday, the Chief Minister offered prayers at the temple in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district and directed officials to change the name from Yadadri to Yadagiri in all records.

The decision was taken at a meeting with officials to review the development of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, popularly known as Yadagirigutta temple.

Popular as Telangana’s Tirumala, the temple of the lion god is located on a hillock at Yadagirigutta, about 55 km from Hyderabad.

The temple was renovated by the previous government of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for Rs 1,800 crore.

Revanth Reddy asked the officials to constitute the Yadagirigutta Temple Board to manage the affairs of the famous temple.

He directed that the Yadagirigutta Temple Board be similar to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which runs the affairs of Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh.

Revanth Reddy directed the officials to complete the pending works of the temple development. He also sought a report on pending works and other issues.

The Chief Minister also suggested to officials to bring a special policy for protection of cows at goshalas. He told officials that if necessary, they should use technology for cow protection.

He also asked officials to make arrangements for the devotees to sleep on the hillock before offering prayers.

The CM also directed officials to expedite the gold plating of Vimana Gopuram. He said the gold plating work should be completed by the Brahmotsavam.

The gold plating work was taken up as part of the renovation and it requires 125 kilograms of gold.

The officials were also directed to complete land acquisition for the temple development. The Chief Minister ordered officials to release the funds required for the purpose.

Ministers Konda Surekha, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Ponnam Prabhakar, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, Government Advisors Vem Narender Reddy, Srinivasa Raju, MLAs, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Yadadri Temple Development Authority Chairman Kishan Reddy, district collector Hanumantha Rao and others were present.

After taking over as the first chief minister of Telangana in 2014, K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) had renamed Yadagiri as Yadadri and proposed to develop the temple on the lines of Tirumala temple.

The ambitious project for renovation of the temple was taken up in 2016 at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore.

In March 2022, KCR inaugurated the renovated temple. The sanctum sanctorum was reopened after a gap of six years.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

Hitting out at the BRS over its “loot” while in power, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday asked if the opposition party is ready for a probe into alleged corruption in the implementation of Bathukamma sarees distribution, KCR kits and other schemes during its regime.

Revanth Reddy, who spoke in the Legislative Assembly during the debate on the state budget for 2024-25, also said Metro rail would be expanded to the old city of Hyderabad in the next four years.

Responding to BRS member and former minister T Harish Rao, Revanth Reddy alleged that a toll collection contract of Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) was given away for just over Rs 7,000 crore which was worth higher many times.

On the alleged scam in the sheep distribution scheme during the BRS regime, he said about Rs 700 crore irregularities have been found by ACB even before going deep into it. The ED is also involved in the issue, he said.

Though the Bathukamma festival is sentimental for state’s women, the women were let down in the scheme of distribution of free sarees for the festival. The women burnt the sarees in view of their inferior quality, he said.

“Bathukamma is a sentiment for women in Telangana. That sentiment was also used for loot,” he said.

Recalling that BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao had represented Mahabubnagar in Lok Sabha, Revanth Reddy asked whether the former Chief Minister was not supposed to complete the projects in Mahabubnagar district when he is the first Chief Minister of Telangana.

“If they have run the administration very honestly, I am asking. Bathukamma sarees, KCR Kits, Sheep distribution. You are claiming them to be great schemes. Are you ready for probe? I am asking them to answer,” he said.

Revanth Reddy also said Harish Rao is not speaking the truth when he said the previous BRS regime fought with the Centre and did not accept the suggestion to install meters to agriculture pump sets (to benefit the farmers).

Revanth Reddy said the BRS government had signed a tripartite agreement in 2017 with the state power distribution companies and the Centre.

The BRS regime had agreed to install meters to power distribution transformers and also for installing meters to domestic consumers who consume 500 units and 200 units, he said.

Harish Rao said he will respond on the issue after going through the documents concerned, adding that the BRS government did not instal metres to burden any farmer in the state.

Harish Rao also said it is not correct to say that the ORR contract was given away and that the government would get it back.

Responding to CM Revanth Reddy’s comments that the previous BRS government entered into a tripartite agreement with the state power discoms and the Centre, Harish Rao on Saturday night recalled KCR’s comments that the BRS regime did not agree to install meters to agri pumpsets though the Centre was ready to provide a loan of Rs 30,000 crore.

Revanth Reddy asked whether he stated that meters would be installed to agricultural pumpsets. He also asked whether installing meters to distribution transformers does not cover agriculture connections.

The BRS government handed over the state energy department to the Centre by signing the pact, he charged.

Now, the state government is faced with a situation of installing smart meters to consumers as per the agreement and the BRS should apologise to people, he said.

Responding to AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi’s comments that the Metro rail network has not been expanded to the old city of Hyderabad, Revanth Reddy said the state government has submitted a representation to the Centre on Metro expansion.

“We gave representation to Centre on the 78 km, phase-2 (of Metro rail). We gave project report. The doubt of our friend is who is going to build. Where will the money come from? That’s why, JV model between the Central and state government. The agency is going to take up this work. Joint venture between Govt of India and state government,” he said.

The share of the Centre proposed is 15 per cent and state government’s share is 35 per cent, while 45 per cent would be a loan. Five per cent share would be the PPP model, he said.

Assuring Akbaruddin Owaisi not to have any worries about the expansion of the Metro rail to the old city, he said he will come to Chandrayangutta (Akbaruddin’s Assembly segment) in Metro rail to seek votes in the next polls.

On Akbaruddin Owaisi’s comments that a case registered against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the city during the recent Lok Sabha poll campaign over the presence of children during campaign was withdrawn though a case against him (Akbaruddin) is continuing, Revanth Reddy said the government would obtain details on the matter.

He, however, said it was the Congress which had complained to election authorities on the issue of poll campaign attended by Shah.

Revanth Reddy said police filed the charge sheet against the organisers of the campaign event and withdrew the names of Shah and also Union Minister Kishan Reddy from the FIR.

However, Congress has gone to court contending that the case should continue against Shah and Kishan Reddy, he said.

On the occasion, the CM reiterated that the Centre should not discriminate against any state.

Revanth Reddy did not attend the NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi on Saturday in protest against the Centre allegedly hurting the state’s rights.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

Six BRS MLCs joined Congress late last night in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, dealing a significant blow to the K. Chandrasekhar Rao-led party.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi continues to suffer from desertions, with several leaders, including six MLAs, leaving the party after its defeat in the assembly polls last year.

BRS MP Keshava Rao tendered resignation after joining the Congress party. Welcome his decision

What about the BRS MLA who defected and contested Loksabha on Congress ticket?

What about half a dozen other BRS MLAs who defected to congress?@RahulGandhi is this how you are… pic.twitter.com/6NEN71J5GA

— KTR (@KTRBRS) July 4, 2024

According to the Telangana Legislative Council website, currently BRS has 25 members and Congress has four. There are four nominated MLCs, two members from AIMIM, one each from BJP, PRTU, and one independent MLC, while two seats are vacant in the 40-member house.

The MLCs joined the Congress soon after Revanth Reddy returned from a two-day trip to the national capital Thursday night.

With the fresh defections, Congress’s strength is set to go up to 10 in the legislative council. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The Telangana government estimates that the state exchequer may have suffered a loss of up to Rs 6,000 crores because of what they allege were irregularities in the power purchase agreements drawn up by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi government.

After being issued a notice by a Commission of Inquiry set up to probe suspected irregularities, former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had said no investigation could be ordered into a decision of the Electricity Regulatory Commission. He had also questioned the neutrality of former Justice Narasimha Reddy who is heading the probe panel.

On Tuesday, documents were made available to the media to show that the power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Chhattisgarh had not been ratified and sanctioned by the Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC).

Mr Rao, popularly known as KCR, has been critical of the Justice Narasimha Reddy Commission of Inquiry, even calling for the former chief justice of Patna High Court’s recusal. Labelling the commission unlawful, he has argued that it lacks the authority to investigate PPAs and issues related to power plant construction once the TSERC has approved them.

The officials have, however, clarified that although the agreement with Chhattisgarh was operational by the end of 2017, the power supply was only to the extent of 1,000 MW, which meant Telangana had to purchase additional power from the market, incurring an extra cost of Rs 2,083 crore between 2017 and 2022.

“The previous government claimed to have paid Rs 3.9 per unit for power, but the actual cost was Rs 5.64 per unit, including other expenses. Between 2017 and 2022, Telangana purchased 17,996 million units for Rs 7,719 crore. The government claimed it had paid Rs 1,081 crore to Chhattisgarh for power, but the transmission charge for delivering the power was Rs 1,362 crore. Considering all these costs, the per unit expenditure was Rs 5.64, which is Rs 3,110 crore over the agreed price of Rs 3.9 per unit,” a senior official explained.

KCR, who played a pivotal role in the movement for a separate Telangana, became its first chief minister after its creation in 2014 and remained in the seat till last year, when his Bharat Rashtra Samithi was handed a comprehensive defeat by the Congress, which won 64 of the state’s 119 Assembly seats. That number went up to 65 after a recent bypoll.

Making a stunning claim, Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao has said a group of regional parties could form a government and the NDA or INDIA alliances may end up having to support them, instead of the other way around. 

In an expansive interview with NDTV on Friday, Mr Rao, or KCR as he is popularly known, also spoke about how his party is far from finished and will get seats in the double digits out of the 17 constituencies in Telangana. He also answered questions about the BJP’s prospects, the “failure” of the Congress government in the state, and the arrest of his daughter K Kavitha in the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam.

Addressing a rally for sitting MP and one of the candidates in the Lok Sabha polls, Nama Nageswara Rao, the BRS chief had said Mr Nageswara Rao could end up being a Union minister. 

When he was asked about this and whether he would support the NDA or the INDIA bloc, KCR said, “I will tell you a surprising thing which you may not believe. This time, something new is going to happen in the country. All the regional parties are very strong now. They will emerge as a force. It’s not the regional parties supporting NDA or INDIA. It’s nothing like that. Either of them will have to support the regional parties’ group. It will be a reverse thing. You will see it.”

Mr Rao’s party had won nine out of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana in 2019 and he was the chief minister of the state for nearly a decade since its formation in 2014. But, since the Congress’ big victory in the Assembly elections last year – it won 64 of the state’s 119 seats, securing a majority on its own – there has been talk of the BRS’ star being on the wane, which has been reinforced by several leaders deserting the party.

To a poser on this, Mr Rao said the Congress has not fulfilled the promises it had made in the six months it has been in power and people are angry with the Revanth Reddy government. 

“The only promise they have delivered is free bus (tickets) for the woman. Even that has become a big joke. Women are fighting in the buses and auto drivers are (protesting) on the roads. That’s the reason people are very angry. The farming community, which got a lot of confidence during my regime, is also very angry. And I think the reflection will be seen in the Lok Sabha elections,” he said, adding that his party will get seats in the double digits, going up to 12.

On whether he thought people defeated his government because they were angry with him and believed the parties who said he was inaccessible, Mr Rao replied in the negative and said that people had got stable supply of power, drinking water and water for irrigation under his government and had been “tempted” by the Congress’ promises. 

“They made very, very attractive promises. The (vote share) margin between the Congress and BRS was 1.8%. We won about one-third seats of the state Assembly, which is not a small thing. It was not a rout… It was a small thing where the people, out of temptation and because they believed that Congress may deliver more than KCR… we were defeated. Now everyone has realised the Congress has failed to deliver and has cheated them,” he claimed. 

‘Sunflowers’ In Politics

Many candidates from the BJP and the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls were with the BRS earlier, and Mr Rao had a quip reserved for them: “Only a handful of people went out of the party… In politics, it is common that whenever power shifts, there are a certain number of sunflowers in each party… they will turn towards the sun and leave the party.”

The BJP had won 4 seats in Telangana in the 2019 general elections and the party has claimed that it will enter the double digits in the state this time. When he was asked to comment on this, Mr Rao said, “The BJP is running a Goebbels campaign. The BJP will get only one or none in Telangana in these Lok Sabha elections.”

The former chief minister asserted that the BJP, which had won only 29 seats out of 130 (including Puducherry) in south India in 2019, would not win more than 10 this time, and that the NDA would be reduced to just 226 seats nationally. 

“The Prime Minister has lost his charisma. People have realised it. The value of the Rupee has gone down to its lowest level and there is a capital drain from India now. Farmers are angry, many others are angry,” he claimed. 

K Kavitha Arrest

On the arrest of his daughter and BRS leader K Kavitha by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor policy scam on March 15, Mr Rao said the BJP had done that because he had taken action against people who were trying to topple his government in Telangana.

Referring to a case filed against BJP National General Secretary BL Santhosh for allegedly poaching BRS MLAs, he said, “I was the first chief Minister in India who vehemently opposed Mr Modi and many of his policies… I sent my police forces to the central office of the BJP in Delhi to catch BL Santhosh. That angered the BJP. That’s why they arrested Kavitha in a false case.”

“Ultimately, we believe in the judiciary. Today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal got bail, I think my daughter will also get bail. The Delhi liquor policy scam is not a scam. Every state has a liquor policy… not a single rupee was recovered… they are playing a drama with my daughter and also Arvind Kejriwal,” he asserted. 

Revanth Reddy In BJP?

Asked about his son and former minister KT Rama Rao’s statement that Congress leader and Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy would switch to the BJP, KCR said this was evident in how he had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi his big brother at an event in the state. 

“He had said we need your (PM Modi’s) support going forward as well. What does it mean? He is accepting that Rahul Gandhi will not become Prime Minister. Revanth Reddy is in trouble, he is facing the (2015) vote-for-note case and I think that is coming to an end in June or July. Even people from the Congress are thinking he may jump to the BJP,” he said.

Mr Rao denied allegations of involvement in the phone-tapping scandal that has rocked the state and said it was completely in the police’s domain. He also called the allegations of corruption in the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project “senseless” and termed it a “marvel”.

On the PM saying that reservation to Muslims based on religion is not allowed under the Constitution, Mr Rao said, “Whether the Constitution allows it is an academic subject. But as far as I’m concerned, whether it is a Muslim or Hindu or whatever, people who did not get their share, people who are still poor, who deserve reservation, must get reservation. It’s not a fair thing on the part of the Government of India… and the Prime Minister talking about it.. it looks very silly. It’s not correct.”

Hyderabad:

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy today reiterated his promise to waive farmer loans upto Rs 2 lakh, “come what may”,. Then came a bizarre addition — “even if KCR (his predecessor K Chandrasekhar Rao) were to die by hanging in his farm house, I will waive farmer loans by August 15,” he thundered.

Revanth Reddy was addressing a meeting in his Kodangal assembly constituency, which falls in his native Mahbubnagar constituency.

His comments come on the eve of Mr Rao, the chief of Bharat Rashtra Samithi, starting his Lok Sabha campaign. The journey begins tomorrow by a special bus.

Even before that, Mr Rao has been touring drought-hit districts, meeting with farmers in distress to tell them that they were much better off when he was Chief Minister. There was no shortage of water and farmers harvested plenty, he told them.

Revanth Reddy’s promise of waiving Rs 2 lakh loans of farmers before August 15 was made two days ago in Bhongir. BRS leader and nephew of KCR, T Harish Rao, had asked yesterday whether Mr Reddy would resign if he was unable to fulfil his loan waiver promise.

Today, it was Revanth Reddy’s turn to retort and he asked if KCR would disband his party if he kept his word on waiving farmer loans by August 15.

“Your uncle knows better than you that Revanth does what he says and keeps his word,” the Chief Minister said.

This is not the first time Revanth Reddy is talking about hanging Mr Rao. A few days ago, he said it would not be wrong to hang KCR and his son for the way in which they had allegedly looted real estate in Hyderabad.

On April 6, when Rahul Gandhi was in Tukkuguda, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Revanth Reddy had attacked KCR, declaring that he would send him to jail. He would also build a 2BHK for Mr Rao in Cherlapally so he could cool his heels inside with his family, Mr Reddy said.

In 2015, just an year after KCR became Telangana Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, then with the TDP, went to jail in a cash-for-votes scam. He had to come out on bail to attend his daughter’s engagement ceremony. Revanth Reddy had vowed revenge against KCR when he came out of jail.

Hyderabad:

As part of poll duty, election officials on Sunday inspected the bus in which former Telangana Chief Minister and BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao was traveling during his visit to Suryapet district, about 170 km from here.

Telangana will vote for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on May 13 for which the Model Code Conduct (MCC) is currently in place.

According to sources in the BRS, K Chandrasekhar Rao was on his way to Suryapet as part of his tour to inspect agricultural fields which are allegedly facing drought-like conditions.

The BRS sources said the vehicle was checked at Edulaparre tanda check post in the district.

KCR was interacting with farmers to instill confidence in view of the drought-like conditions faced by them, party sources said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

In yet another blow to former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Chevella MP Ranjith Reddy on Sunday quit the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and joined the ruling Congress.

Taking to his official X account, he cited “current political circumstances” behind his (sudden but expected) resignation. He also shared his resignation letter on the microblogging platform.

“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the invaluable opportunity provided by the party to address and resolve the crucial issues affecting the residents of the former Ranga Reddy and Vikarabad Districts. Your confidence in my abilities has empowered me to effectively serve the constituents of Chevella, my parliamentary constituency,” Mr Reddy wrote in his resignation letter to Mr Rao.

“I am sincerely thankful for your steadfast support throughout this journey. Unfortunately, due to the current political circumstances in the state of Telangana, I have come to the difficult decision to pursue an alternative path. It is with a heavy heart that I hereby submit my resignation from the BRS Party and relinquish my membership. I want to extend my deepest appreciation for the support and endorsement extended by the party during my tenure,” he said.

I’m writing to inform all my supporters and people that I have submitted the formal letter of resignation to @BRSparty

I would like to convey my gratitude to the BRS party for the meaningful opportunity provided & the cooperation extended in my service to the people of… pic.twitter.com/tCZ4N9Kbo8

— Dr Ranjith Reddy (@DrRanjithReddy) March 17, 2024

Hours after his resignation, Mr Reddy joined the Congress in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and other senior party leaders.

ముఖ్యమంత్రి, టిపిసిసి అద్యక్షులు శ్రీ రేవంత్ రెడ్డి గారు, ఏఐసీసీ ఇంచార్జ్ దీపాదాస్ మున్షీ సమక్షంలో కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీలో చేరిన చేవెళ్ల బీఆరెస్ ఎంపీ రంజిత్ రెడ్డి గారు, ఖైరతాబాద్ బీఆర్ఎస్ ఎమ్మెల్యే దానం నాగేందర్ గారు.#JoiningsInCongresspic.twitter.com/4hPJhvYT0k

— Telangana Congress (@INCTelangana) March 17, 2024

K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is commonly known as KCR, has seen some of his party’s MPs switching over to other parties in the past few weeks.

Earlier on Saturday, BRS MP from Warangal Pasunoori Dayakar joined the ruling Congress.

Recently, BRS MPs from Zaheerabad and Nagarkurnool, BB Patil and P Ramulu respectively, had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BRS has been on the back foot after its defeat in the recently held assembly elections in Telangana and has been struggling to find candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP, on the other hand, also does not have enough candidates and has been eyeing to induct leaders from other parties.

It fielded BB Patil from Zaheerabad, a day after he joined the party. The BJP also made Bharat Prasad its candidate from the Nagarkurnool (SC reserved) constituency, days after his father, P Ramulu, resigned from the KCR-led BRS.

Elections will be held in Telangana on May 13.