Telangana Congress President Accuses BJP of Communal Polarization in Municipal Elections
In a sharp critique ahead of the municipal elections, Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to incite communal passions to polarize voters. Addressing a media conference in Hyderabad, Goud alleged that the BJP's tactics are aimed at diverting attention from substantive issues, particularly the Centre's alleged injustice to Telangana in terms of funds and project approvals.
Allegations of Financial Injustice to Telangana
Goud called upon the people of Telangana to think carefully before casting their votes, emphasizing that the BJP should seek votes only after informing citizens about the central funds and projects secured for the state. He highlighted that Telangana's eight MPs, including two Union ministers, have failed to deliver adequate financial support in the Union budget 2026-27.
Providing detailed figures, Goud stated that Telangana's share in the country's GDP is 5.01%. Based on these calculations, he argued that the state should have received approximately 3.76 lakh crore from the Centre over the last five years. However, he alleged that Telangana received only 1.84 lakh crore, indicating a significant shortfall.
GST Collections and Federalism Concerns
Further elaborating on the financial disparities, Goud pointed to GST collections as evidence of the Centre's bias. He claimed that Telangana contributed 4.32 lakh crore to the central exchequer in GST over five years but received back only 3.76 lakh crore. This, he asserted, contradicts the spirit of federalism, with the central government allegedly prioritizing northern states like Gujarat in budget allocations while doing injustice to southern states, including Telangana.
Goud alleged that the Union budget appears designed to divert taxes paid by Telangana's people to other regions, undermining the state's development. He expressed confidence that the people of Telangana, who live in religious harmony, would reject such divisive politics and not support the BJP.
Reference to Past Electoral Outcomes
To bolster his argument, Goud cited the Jubilee Hills by-election, where he noted that the BJP lost its deposit, suggesting that voters have already shown their disapproval of the party's strategies. He urged citizens to consider these factors in the upcoming municipal elections, framing the contest as a choice between communal polarization and equitable development.
In summary, Goud's accusations center on two main points: the BJP's alleged use of communal tactics to sway voters and the Centre's financial neglect of Telangana, which he claims hampers the state's progress and violates federal principles.
