As the budget session nears, political tensions are also rising. While the BRS criticises Congress on various issues, Congress leaders blame the BRS for emptying the state treasury during its 10-year rule.
Published Mar 11, 2025 | 4:33 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 11, 2025 | 4:33 PM
KCR's (R) criticism of his government and Congress's promises angered Revanth Reddy.
Synopsis: The budget session of the Telangana Assembly will begin on 12 March. BRS chief and Leader of Opposition K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) had said he would attend the budget session. Many are eager to watch if he will confront Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in the House or just attend key days, such as the inaugural session and budget presentation.
The budget session of the Telangana Assembly will begin on Wednesday, 12 March, with Governor Jishnu Dev Varma’s address. It will be his maiden address to the Telangana Legislature after he took over as Governor on 31 July 2024.
The Assembly session is expected to be stormy with both ruling and Opposition parties sharpening their knives. It is also to be noted that BRS chief and Leader of Opposition K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) had said he would attend the budget session.
However, it is unclear how many days he will be present. Many are eager to watch if he will confront Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in the House or just attend key days, such as the inaugural session and budget presentation, before returning to his farmhouse.
During the budget session in 2024, KCR attended the Assembly only once. He made a brief appearance but remained silent. Outside the House, he vowed to attack the Congress government for the shallow budget presented at that time and that he would take them to task. However, soon, he went silent again.
Despite taunts from Congress leaders, KCR stayed quiet at his farmhouse in Erravalli in the Siddipet district. Some believe he was taking a break, while others think he was observing Revanth Reddy’s government before going for his jugular at the appropriate time.
During his last appearance, about seven months ago, Revanth Reddy mocked him. He said KCR only attended because he feared his son KT Rama Rao (KTR), or nephew T Harish Rao might take his position as the Opposition leader.
On Monday, KTR told the media that KCR is too senior a leader for Revanth Reddy to challenge. He said that Revanth lacks the stature to face KCR.
In response, Revanth Reddy pointed out that he was elected by the people as chief minister, unlike KCR. He said this proves who has the higher stature.
As the budget session nears, political tensions are also rising. While the BRS criticises Congress on various issues, Congress leaders blame the BRS for emptying the state treasury during its 10-year rule.
They accuse the previous government of reckless spending and heavy borrowing, making it difficult to implement welfare schemes.
On Monday, KTR and Revanth Reddy held separate press conferences in the Assembly lobbies. They were there to accompany their party candidates filing nominations for MLC elections under the MLA quota.
KTR said he felt there was no need for KCR to attend the session. He argued that KCR should not tolerate “abuse” from “small leaders” like Revanth Reddy, whom he called a political “dwarf.”
Revanth Reddy fired back, accusing KCR of taking salary and allowances as Opposition leader without doing any real work.
Meanwhile, the BJP is also preparing to challenge the Congress. After winning two out of three MLC seats, the party is feeling confident.
Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar have been attacking Revanth Reddy, who is increasingly standing alone in his party and government.
Both the BRS and BJP are ready to confront the Congress on its promises and delays in their implementation. Congress, in turn, is expected to blame the BRS for the state’s emaciated coffers.
The chief minister and his ministers are compiling statistics to show how they have performed well despite financial constraints. They may argue that the BRS left behind massive debts, forcing them to manage repayments while still working for the people.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
