HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has challenged Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K. Chandrashekar Rao and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president and Union Minister Kishan Reddy to an open debate. He invited them to compare the developmental and welfare initiatives undertaken during BRS’ 10-year rule, BJP’s 12-year tenure at the Centre, and Congress’ one-year governance in Telangana.
Speaking at a public meeting after inaugurating and laying the foundation for various development projects in Narayanpet district, Revanth Reddy questioned KCR’s contributions to Telangana during his decade-long tenure. He also asked how much funding the BJP-led central government had allocated to the state in the past 12 years. The Chief Minister stated that he was ready to present Congress’ achievements in one year and challenged the opposition leaders to a public discussion.
He added that KCR could either participate himself or send his son or son-in-law for the debate. Similarly, he challenged Kishan Reddy to accept the invitation or delegate BJP leader Bandi Sanjay. Revanth Reddy stated that the BRS and BJP leaders could decide the time and place, and he would join them anywhere to present the Congress government’s achievements.
Congress’ Developmental Initiatives in One Year
Revanth Reddy highlighted several welfare initiatives implemented under Congress rule. He claimed that in just one year, Congress had delivered development unmatched by any other state in India. The government approved 3,500 Indiramma houses in each Assembly constituency for poor families. He alleged that the KCR-led BRS government failed to provide even double-bedroom houses in 10 years.
He also criticized BRS for not completing the Palamuru-Rangareddy project, which was intended to benefit the undivided Mahbubnagar district. According to him, Congress is now taking steps to complete the project, but BRS is creating obstacles. If the project had been completed earlier, there would be no ongoing water disputes with neighboring Andhra Pradesh. Since coming to power, Congress has initiated irrigation projects in Makthal, Narayanpet, and Kodangal.
Revanth Reddy also accused BRS leaders of enabling the transfer of Krishna river water to Rayalaseema through the Pothireddypadu project during the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy regime. At that time, BRS was part of the Congress government in the state. He further alleged that the Kaleshwaram project was used to loot public funds and criticized MLC K. Kavitha’s alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor scam, which he said tarnished Telangana’s reputation.
Congress Government’s Key Achievements
Listing Congress’ initiatives in the past year, Revanth Reddy stated that the government has fulfilled its promises, including:
– Recruitment for over 50,000 government jobs
– Waiver of farmers’ agricultural loans
– Launch of Rythu Bharosa scheme to assist farmers with cultivation expenses
– Free travel for women in state-run transport
– Subsidized LPG cylinders at ₹500
– Free electricity up to 200 units
– Issuance of new ration cards
He claimed that unlike BRS, which had no proper record of its achievements over 10 years, Congress had a long list of developmental works completed in just one year.
