Former BRS MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh was fined ₹25 lakh by the Telangana High Court for contesting elections with forged documents while holding German citizenship. The ruling comes amidst escalating tensions between the BRS and Congress parties in the Telangana Assembly.
The Supreme Court of India granted bail to K Kavitha, a leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), in connection with money laundering and corruption charges related to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. The court criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for their selective approach in the investigation, noting the fairness of the probe was questionable. Kavitha, a BRS MLC, was released on bail in both the CBI and ED cases, subject to furnishing bonds of ₹10 lakhs each. The court also ordered Kavitha to deposit her passport and refrain from influencing or intimidating the sureties.
A heated exchange erupted between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and BRS working president K T Rama Rao regarding the Congress government’s decision to install a statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at the secretariat. While Reddy affirmed the installation, KTR threatened to remove it if BRS returns to power, sparking a fierce political battle.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy faces a multitude of challenges, including a negative campaign from the opposition, internal pressures from party members vying for cabinet positions, and the need to maintain regional and caste balance. He must also navigate the party’s political strategy amidst defections and fulfill the government’s election promises, all while ensuring the Congress party’s stability and effectiveness.
The Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail plea of BRS leader K Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Kavitha, who was arrested by both the CBI and ED for her alleged role in the scam, was denied bail by the trial court on May 6, a decision she challenged in the High Court. The court rejected her plea on May 28, citing her influential position and the potential to influence witnesses.
Former Telangana minister T. Harish Rao has alleged a tacit understanding between the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of helping each other in eight Parliamentary Constituencies each. He claimed that the people of Telangana are seeking change once again due to the Congress Government’s unfulfilled promises. Despite promises to implement various welfare measures within the first 100 days, only a few have been partially implemented, leading to widespread discontent among the people. The BRS leader reiterated his commitment to resign as an MLA if the six guarantees and ₹2 lakh farm loan waiver are not implemented in full by August 15.
In a dramatic turn of events, Panjagutta police in Hyderabad have charged four police officers involved in a phone-tapping case with cyber terrorism. This is the first time such a charge has been brought against police personnel. The accused, former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) DSP D Praneeth Rao, ASPs Bhujanga Rao and Tirupathanna, and former DCP (Task Force) Radhakishan Rao, were initially charged with conspiracy for tapping phones of opposition politicians, including now Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, when BRS was in government. They are also accused of maintaining constant surveillance on politicians and other prominent individuals. Now police have sought permission to invoke 66 F of the Information Technology Act, which carries a life sentence and defines cyber terrorism as denying access or introducing contaminants into a system to threaten India’s unity or security.
BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao asserted his resilience against the Congress government’s threats of imprisonment, declaring that he cannot be erased from Telangana’s history. He urged the people to grant more Lok Sabha seats to BRS, claiming its strength lies within Telangana. KCR denounced the Congress government for breaking promises and using derogatory language against him.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao launched a fierce attack on the Congress, claiming it as the primary antagonist for the people of Telangana. He alleged that the party has inflicted injustice and discrimination since 1956 by forcibly merging the Hyderabad State with Andhra Pradesh. According to Mr. Rao, the Congress government’s failure to release water for irrigation under the Nagarjunasagar Left Canal has led to crop failure, leaving farmers in a state of despair. He attributed the current issues with power supply and water management to the Congress government’s policies. Additionally, he accused Andhra Pradesh of diverting water from the Nagarjunasagar tailpond while depriving farmers in Nalgonda. While welcoming the National Green Tribunal’s approval for the Yadadri Thermal Power Project, Rao urged the government to expedite its completion. During his roadshow, farmers intercepted his vehicle to express their concerns about the delay in paddy procurement. Rao also highlighted the Congress party’s broken promises, stating that it has failed to fulfill any of the 420 promises it made.
At a nomination event for BRS candidate Maloth Kavitha, MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra criticized the Congress regime, highlighting its unfulfilled promises and loss of public trust. He praised the BRS government under K. Chandrasekhar Rao for initiatives like Rythu Bandhu, reliable power supply, and irrigation projects. Ravichandra urged voters to support Kavitha to secure the Mahabubabad Lok Sabha seat again. Kavitha emphasized the BRS’s role in Telangana’s development and appealed for reelection, citing past accomplishments. Former Minister Satyavathi Rathod, ex-MLAs, Zilla Parishad chairpersons, and other party members attended the event.
