One Battle After Another: How Revanth Reddy Government Has BRS Pinned Down in Telangana
Insiders from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi have accused the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, of strategically keeping party leaders entangled in legal cases. This tactic, they claim, prevents BRS members from focusing on party activities and regrouping after successive electoral defeats.
Legal Onslaught Keeps BRS on the Defensive
The Revanth Reddy administration has cornered the Bharat Rashtra Samithi with at least four high-profile cases, denying the party, under the leadership of K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), any opportunity to plan or reorganize. This relentless legal pressure has forced the opposition into a perpetual defensive stance, severely limiting its capacity to counter the Congress politically.
According to party sources, the BRS is being systematically worn down by investigations across multiple fronts. The troubles have extended to KCR's family, with his son and party working president, K T Rama Rao (KTR), embroiled in the Formula-E case. Additionally, a judicial inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project has directly implicated KCR for damages to the Medigadda reservoir.
Key Cases Under Scrutiny
Formula E Case: The Anti-Corruption Bureau booked KTR in December 2023 over allegations of transferring Rs 45 crore to Formula-E Organisers in February of that year, when he served as Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development. The FIR includes charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC sections for criminal breach of trust and conspiracy.
Medigadda Barrage Inquiry: In March 2024, the government established a judicial commission led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose to investigate negligence in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. The commission's report held KCR directly accountable for irregularities, citing his involvement as a cause of distress to the barrages.
Phone Tapping Case: The BRS leadership, including KTR and MLA T Harish Rao, is under investigation for alleged snooping on political rivals. A Special Investigation Team has questioned both leaders, with cases filed for criminal conspiracy and violations of the IT Act.
Singareni Collieries Controversy: After Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka faced accusations of influencing contracts, he countered by calling for a probe into all Singareni contracts since 2014, shifting scrutiny onto the previous BRS government.
Impact on Party Activities and Elections
BRS leaders express frustration over the constant legal battles, which divert attention from grassroots organizing. Former minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, a close aide of KCR, stated, "The heat is being kept up on BRS leaders as a diversionary tactic. It affects party activities, but we have to carry on." BRS MLC Dr Sravan Dasoju condemned the actions as "predictive politics" and a "malicious witch hunt."
The legal entanglements reportedly impacted the party's performance in the December gram panchayat polls. Congress-backed candidates won 66% of panchayats, while BRS secured 3,511 seats, slipping behind the BJP in many rural areas. However, in constituencies represented by strong BRS leaders like Harish Rao and KTR, the party fared better, highlighting the importance of local leadership visibility.
Government's Response and Future Outlook
Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka defended the investigations, asserting that the law must take its course regardless of political affiliations. "The investigations were taken up only after irregularities were found. The BRS is indulging in propaganda," he said. Minister Jupally Krishna Rao emphasized the seriousness of the phone tapping case, rejecting claims of political vendetta.
As the BRS struggles to hold a full-fledged leadership meeting for analysis, the Congress government's legal strategy continues to dominate Telangana's political landscape, keeping the opposition pinned down and unable to mount an effective counteroffensive.
