In a sharp political escalation, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has thrown down the gauntlet to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), challenging him to a direct debate on critical river water issues in the state legislative assembly. The Chief Minister announced that the assembly session would commence on January 2, 2026, and publicly urged KCR to use this democratic platform to discuss the matter, moving beyond press conferences.
Allegations of Water Mismanagement and Diversion
The challenge comes as a direct response to KCR's recent criticism of both the Central and state governments after a BRS legislature party meeting. Countering the former CM's remarks, Revanth Reddy launched a scathing attack, alleging that the highest level of water exploitation in Telangana's history occurred during the decade-long BRS tenure. He accused KCR of effectively signing a "death sentence" for three districts through his policies.
The Chief Minister presented specific figures to back his claims. He alleged that during KCR's rule, 512 TMCs (Thousand Million Cubic feet) of water was diverted to Andhra Pradesh, while Telangana itself utilized only 299 TMCs. He emphasized that had water been properly drawn from the Jurala project to the Palamuru–Rangareddy project, the state's water rights would have been secured. Revanth further pointed out that even the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Palamuru–Rangareddy project was not properly submitted during KCR's administration.
"It was KCR who signed off on the allocation of only 299 TMCs to Telangana," Revanth reminded the public, asserting that his current government is fighting for a 71% share in the Godavari waters for the state.
Accusations of Corruption and Administrative Failure
Revanth Reddy's accusations extended beyond water policy into allegations of financial malpractice and gross administrative failure. He claimed that KCR bankrupted the state by creating administrative chaos and failed to build a single project on the Krishna river in ten years. Instead, the Chief Minister alleged, the former CM favored contractors and pocketed crores in commissions.
"A staggering ₹2 lakh crore was spent on Krishna river projects, but bills worth only ₹180 crore were actually paid," Revanth claimed, highlighting a massive alleged discrepancy. He also sarcastically remarked that KCR was acting like a "solo performer" to mislead the public, avoiding legislative scrutiny.
The CM further accused KCR of facilitating water exploitation by Andhra Pradesh by allowing Krishna district waters, which should have been regulated at Jurala, to flow unchecked to Andhra Pradesh from Srisailam.
Internal BRS Dynamics and Final Challenge
Revanth Reddy also delved into the internal politics of the BRS, suggesting deep rifts within the party. He alleged that KCR's son, KT Rama Rao (KTR), and his nephew, T. Harish Rao, want the former CM to step aside and erase his legacy. Describing KTR as a "failure," he claimed there are internal disputes over handing party leadership to Harish Rao, who is allegedly eyeing party assets worth ₹5,300 crore.
The Chief Minister suggested that KCR's public appearances were only happening because his son and son-in-law were at loggerheads, yet he continued to avoid the assembly. Revanth also questioned whether KCR had issued a B-form to Harshavardhan Reddy, who opposed the Palamuru–Rangareddy project, and accused KCR of being a "disciple" of former Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu for praising the Pattiseema project.
Concluding his address, Revanth Reddy expressed wishes for KCR's good health but reiterated his challenge. He once again formally invited the BRS chief to attend the assembly session and engage in a substantive debate on the future of Telangana's water resources, framing it as a test of accountability versus evasion.
