Interview: MLC Dr Addanki Dayakar explains Hyderabad Metro expansion, Kaleshwaram debt, ‘leadership vacuum’ in Oppn

Hyderabad: Dr Addanki Dayakar, Congress Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), talks about the existing financial challenges of the Telangana State government, especially about the Kaleshwaram project.

In an interview with NewsMeter, he delves into the 2026 Municipal Elections, ‘Six Guarantees’ of the Congress party and urban development; he elaborates on the road ahead for the party in Telangana and at the national level.

He also talks about the ‘leadership vacuum’ in the Opposition, BRS and the BJP, which is proving beneficial for the Congress party.

Here are excerpts from the interview with MLC Dr Addanki Dayakar:

NewsMeter: What is behind the Congress party’s success in the recent municipal elections?

Addanki Dayakar: It really came down to a change in strategy. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy made sure we weren’t just talking about development from the top; he put leaders directly on the ground in charge of specific areas.

For instance, I was responsible for Sircilla and Damodar Rajanarsimha took another segment. For the last 10 years, the party relied too much on ads and publicity. This time, we focused on ‘micro-management’ — getting into the heart of the communities and working at the grassroots level. That shift is exactly why we won.

NM: What is the Congress party’s stance on the BJP and BRS, particularly regarding recent communal tensions in Telangana?

Addanki Dayakar: We consider the BJP’s focus on communal rhetoric and Hindu sentiments as a calculated attempt to gain political traction. However, voters in the South remain largely resistant to such divisive tactics.

Our analysis reveals a tactical ‘secret pact’ between the BJP and BRS, where they strategically dilute their presence in certain constituencies to undermine the Congress. We have been on the ground and have seen the pattern — including instances of local collusion of both the Opposition parties with the AIMIM. For this reason, there have been locally customised, area-specific countermeasures to effectively challenge all three parties simultaneously.

NM: How do you explain the localised cooperation between the Congress and the MIM?

Addanki Dayakar: Historically, the AIMIM has a pattern of aligning with the party in power to protect its interests.

While they previously worked closely with the BRS, they have now shifted their cooperation towards our government. Their political history shows they are highly pragmatic—at times even maintaining subtle understandings with the BJP in states like Bihar and Maharashtra, despite having worked with the UPA nationally.

As a governing party, we engage with them strategically and utilise their support in specific areas when it aligns with our broader administrative and political objectives.

NM: What are the main issues you are tackling in your constituency currently?

Addanki Dayakar: The people in Nalgonda and Suryapet are looking for the fulfilment of our ‘Six Guarantees’, and we are working hard to deliver. We’ve made great progress with free bus travel. The focus is now on housing, Rythu Bharosa and the ‘Runamafi’ (loan waivers). There is also a lot of discussion on the ground about the ‘Sannabiyyam’ (fine rice) and the gold promise for marriages. We know the ‘gold guarantee’ is a major financial task, but we are dedicated to finding ways to meet the high expectations of our rural citizens.

NM: How is the Congress government planning to provide ‘Housing for All’ in the Hyderabad region?

Addanki Dayakar: We are tackling the housing crisis head-on with a two-pronged strategy. First, we are launching a massive project to build more than one lakh houses. We’ve split this into two tiers:

L1, where we provide financial aid to those who already own land

L2, where we provide both the land and the house to those who have nothing.

By prioritising L1 first, we can get families into homes faster. Second, we aren’t letting existing resources go to waste; we are identifying and finishing nearly 23,000 unoccupied homes left behind by the BRS government to ensure no house sits empty while people are in need.

NM: What is the current roadmap for the Hyderabad Metro expansion?

Addanki Dayakar: We are moving aggressively to expand the network to Shamshabad Airport, the ‘Future City’, and corridors like the Karimnagar Road (Rajiv Rahadari) to provide the most affordable and efficient transit for the public.

To unlock Phase 2 and Phase 3 funding, our Cabinet just approved the full takeover of Phase 1 from L&T, which will be completed by March 31.

This transition into a 50-50 joint venture with the Central Government is the key to securing the necessary grants. While we are confident in the Centre’s support, the state is fully prepared to mobilise its own resources to ensure these critical lifelines are completed.

NM: How is the Telangana government addressing the state’s significant debt burden, particularly from the Kaleshwaram project?

Addanki Dayakar: Managing an inherited debt exceeding Rs 8 lakh crore is a formidable fiscal challenge, with annual debt servicing (interest and EMIs) consuming roughly Rs 52,000 crore—nearly 20 per cent of our total budget.

Despite a lack of support from the Central Government regarding FRBM limit extensions or additional grants, we are proactively implementing a ‘Debt Restructuring Strategy.’ This includes swapping high-interest loans (some as high as 11%) with lower-interest market borrowings.

Furthermore, to fulfil our infrastructure commitments, we are exploring international aid and diverse funding avenues to bypass current fiscal constraints.

NM: How do you evaluate the growth potential of the Congress party over the next five years?

Addanki Dayakar: The Congress party is currently in a position of significant strength, bolstered by a decisive mandate in the Municipal Elections in February.

While the opposition remains fragmented, CM Revanth Reddy has consolidated his role as the state’s eminent leader through a mix of grassroots engagement and high-impact governance.

In contrast, the BRS is grappling with deep internal divisions between KTR and Harish Rao, further complicated by Kavitha’s move to distance herself and launch a new political platform.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s momentum is hampered by persistent leadership competition between figures like Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay.

This ‘leadership vacuum’ in the opposition, combined with the CM’s aggressive developmental agenda, positions Congress as the stable choice for Telangana’s future.

NM: Do you believe the ‘Telangana Model’ of micro-level political management will be adopted by the Congress party at a national level?

Addanki Dayakar: Absolutely. Rahul Gandhi is increasingly being recognised as a mass leader who champions the concerns of the common citizen. While the BJP managed to retain power through its alliances with regional parties like the TDP and JDU, it is clearly facing a rising tide of anti-establishment sentiment.

By replicating the ‘Telangana Model’ across the nation—which prioritises grassroots reliability, inclusive welfare and visible development—we believe Rahul Gandhi will be the clear frontrunner for 2029.