The Ghose Commission’s findings, which hold KCR, former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, and former Finance Minister Eatala Rajender accountable for procedural and financial lapses in the Kaleshwaram project, have armed the Congress with a potent political weapon.
Published Aug 07, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 07, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and BRS supremo KCR
Synopsis: For the Congress, the commission’s report offers a golden opportunity to weaken the BRS’s electoral standing. But for that to translate into lasting political gain, it must pair its attacks with effective governance and fulfillment of promises. For the BRS, salvaging KCR’s reputation and reinforcing the project’s value remain paramount.
The Justice PC Ghose Commission’s report on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme presents the ruling Congress with a strategic opportunity to reverse the perception of its declining political fortunes.
By spotlighting irregularities in the execution of the irrigation project, the Congress is seeking to pin full responsibility for the project’s failure — and the colossal public expenditure it entailed — on the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi government.
This narrative may give Congress the much-needed boost ahead of the upcoming local body elections, which are seen as a crucial barometer of grassroots-level support. However, the party must strike a delicate balance between mounting a strong offensive against the BRS and showcasing its governance credentials. Overreliance on the report — submitted to the government on 31 July — could backfire, especially among voters who continue to hold former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) in high regard.
The Ghose Commission’s findings, which hold KCR, former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, and former Finance Minister Eatala Rajender accountable for procedural and financial lapses in the Kaleshwaram project, have armed the Congress with a potent political weapon.
The commission’s findings of unilateral decision-making, bypassing cabinet procedures, and ignoring expert warnings have allowed the Congress to frame Kaleshwaram as a symbol of BRS-era fiscal recklessness. The party had already laid the groundwork for this narrative through campaigns like the “Kaleshwaram ATM” during the 2023 Assembly elections.
If its criticism of the BRS is perceived as overly vindictive, its strategy could backfire — KCR’s legacy as the father of Telangana’s statehood still resonates with a significant section of the electorate, which may see the inquiry as politically motivated.
The BRS, led by KCR and backed by key figures like his nephew Harish Rao and son KT Rama Rao (KTR), has found itself on the defensive following the commission’s revelations. The party, which ruled Telangana from 2014 to 2023, is already grappling with internal rifts — particularly around KCR’s daughter K Kavitha’s political aspirations — and multiple ongoing investigations, including the phone-tapping case, the Formula E race spending, and the Sheep Distribution Scheme.
Once showcased as a flagship project that would revolutionise Telangana’s agrarian economy, the Kaleshwaram project has now been seen as a political liability. Its cost surged from an estimated ₹38,500 crore to over ₹1.45 lakh crore, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The structural failure of the Medigadda barrage in 2023 further weakened its credibility.
Despite these setbacks, the BRS retains a loyal voter base, largely due to KCR’s image as the leader who achieved statehood for Telangana and ushered in a decade of perceived development.
The Ghose Commission’s indictment threatens to chip away at that legacy. By assigning direct responsibility for the project’s financial and engineering flaws to KCR and his associates, the report could seriously dent his carefully cultivated public image.
According to analysts, the BRS has responded with urgency at this juncture. Harish Rao has dismissed the report as “baseless” and a “political conspiracy” orchestrated by the Congress. He has argued that the project had received approvals from 11 central agencies and was backed by expert consultations and cabinet clearance. To support his claims, he has cited Central Water Commission documents and affidavits.
Analysts believe that for the BRS to withstand the storm, it must double down on building a compelling counter-narrative, reinforce its presence at the grassroots, and mobilise its cadre to defend KCR’s legacy. A weak response could lead to further demoralisation within the party and open the door for defections to the Congress or the BJP — especially as the local polls approach.
It appears that Congress’s intent is not necessarily to prosecute KCR or push for immediate legal action, but rather to strip him of his moral authority and political stature as the messiah of Telangana. That explains why Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, after the approval of the commission’s report by the cabinet, announced that it would be tabled in the Assembly for further discussion — a move intended to sustain the momentum of the Congress’s narrative.
In response, Harish Rao declared that he would “tear the Congress apart” in the House when the debate takes place, signaling that the matter is set to become a battleground of political narratives.
For the Congress, the commission’s report offers a golden opportunity to weaken the BRS’s electoral standing. But for that to translate into lasting political gain, it must pair its attacks with effective governance and fulfillment of promises. For the BRS, salvaging KCR’s reputation and reinforcing the project’s value remain paramount.
The coming weeks will see intense political sparring as both parties vie to shape public perception ahead of the local body polls — with the Kaleshwaram project at the heart of the debate.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
