Tempers flare in Telangana Assembly as KTR alleges 30 percent commission for contractors 

Taking strong exception to Rao’s allegations, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, said the contractors who had made these complaints had recently visited the Secretariat seeking clearance of unpaid bills from the previous BRS regime, not the current government.

Published Mar 26, 2025 | 7:59 PMUpdated Mar 26, 2025 | 8:33 PM

Tempers flare in Telangana Assembly as KTR alleges 30 percent commission for contractors 

Synopsis: BRS leader KT Rama Rao alleged that contractors were being forced to pay up to 30 percent commission to have their bills cleared, sparking a heated exchange with Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka in the assembly. Vikramarka challenged Rao to provide proof, while the Assembly descended into chaos, prompting the Speaker to expunge the remarks from official records. Amid the uproar, the BRS staged a walkout.

Tempers flared in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 26 March, after Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President and Sircilla MLA KT Rama Rao alleged that contractors in the state were being asked to pay bribes of up to 30 percent to get their bills cleared.

Taking strong exception to Rao’s allegations, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka intervened and challenged him to provide evidence for his assertions.

“Let him prove his allegations. If he cannot, he must apologise to the House and the people. I never expected him to make such statements. He is misleading the members. Just because one is given the opportunity to speak in the House does not mean one can make wild accusations,” Vikramarka said.

Responding coolly, Rao urged the minister to “control himself”.

“Let the ministers control themselves. They are becoming hyperactive unnecessarily. If we wanted, we too could provoke them. Even Congress members have said that 30 percent commission is being demanded to clear bills for completed works. In the Secretariat, contractors have said they were being asked to pay 20 percent,” he stated.

The deputy chief minister, visibly agitated, said the contractors who had made these complaints had recently visited the Secretariat seeking clearance of unpaid bills from the previous BRS regime, not the current government.

Raising his voice, Vikramarka continued: “These contractors had come for payment of bills left unpaid by the previous BRS regime, amounting to ₹1 lakh crore. It is the BRS which had looted the state in its tenure. Yet, it is accusing us of corruption. When speaking in the House, one must have self-control and be mindful of their words.”

He further used a Telugu idiom – Vollu deggara pettukuni matladali (One should exercise extreme restraint while making a comment).

The remark angered BRS leaders, who demanded an apology. The House descended into chaos for another 15 minutes, with BRS leaders, including Harish Rao, protesting loudly.

Speaker Revuri Prakash Reddy tried to restore order, but neither side relented.

Amid the uproar, the speaker announced that KT Rama Rao’s allegations would be expunged from the House records.

Later, BRS members staged a walkout and held a protest at the Assembly’s MLA entrance, chanting slogans.

Also Read: SSC question paper leak: Telangana Police register cases against KTR, Dileep Konatham and Manne Krishank

SIT to tackle online betting

Later in the session, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to tackle illegal online betting, which he said was spreading rapidly across the state.

He told the Assembly that the government would amend an existing law to introduce tougher punishments for organising and promoting online betting.

“There is an urgent need to curb online betting, which has become an international crime. Though the previous BRS government brought forth a law in 2017, it was not effectively implemented, which allowing online betting flourish,” he said.

He added that police were already questioning those involved. “Anyone found involved, regardless of the extent of their crime, will face severe consequences,” he warned.

Also Read: BRS MLCs protest against Congress government

‘False narratives about crime’

Responding to BRS allegations that law and order had worsened under the Congress government, the chief minister listed crimes from the previous BRS regime.

“The previous government ranked fourth in the country for crimes against women. Even when the son of a BRS leader was involved in the Jubilee Hills pub case, no action was taken,” he alleged.

Revanth Reddy accused the opposition of spreading false narratives to drive away investors.

“The BRS is painting a picture that Telangana is collapsing under Congress. They seem happy at the thought of the state going bankrupt. However, the government has maintained strict law and order over the past 13 months,” he said.

He also criticised infighting within the BRS, saying its leaders were competing to attack the Congress.

“Elections are still far away in 2029, so why doesn’t the Opposition cooperate with the government? In the past, Congress leader K Jana Reddy, as the Leader of the Opposition, worked constructively with the government. Why not continue that tradition?” he asked.

Revanth Reddy said the state government was on strong footing, claiming Telangana ranks first in the country for inflation control and has achieved 85 percent of its tax collection target. He assured MLAs that his government would support all constituencies, including those represented by opposition members.

“Even if the Gajwel MLA [former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao] approaches me, I will address the needs of his constituency,” he said.

(Edited by Dese Gowda)

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