Any guesses who the next target of the central agencies — currently operating with gusto in Telangana — will be? If the buzz in political circles is anything to go by, a TRS MLC from Nalgonda, considered close to KCR and always seen in his company, is the next on the hit list.
The MLC, who also runs educational institutions like the recently-raided Telangana Minister of Labour and Employment Chamakura Malla Reddy, will have a lot of answering to do when his time comes.
Interestingly, he had lashed out at the I-T officials following the raid on Malla Reddy, with a comment that he too was prepared. He, however, decried the “harsh treatment” treatment being meted out by the officials.
His apprehension is understandable. For whatever reasons, the raiding parties, going by the accounts of those who have already suffered at their hands, are not being exactly kind, and do not hesitate to use strongarm methods if the need arises.
Also on the list, it seems, is a Rajya Sabha member who looks after the financial operations of companies associated with the ruling TRS, including their media houses.
Whether the raids and the cases being filed reach the logical conclusion or get proved in the court of law is anyone’s guess, but the intended purpose appears to be to choke all sources of funding for the TRS.
Just so that readers get a sense of the money power in elections in Telangana, the unsuccessful BJP candidate K Rajagopal Reddy was said to have spent around ₹200 crore to ₹250 crore in the recent Munugode byelection, while the TRS beat him in the game with a reported spend of ₹350 to ₹400 crore.
All political analysts can sit back and relax!
