KTR denies BRS-BJP merger talks, accuses MP Ramesh of links to Rs 1,660 crore road contract firm

Hyderabad/Anakapalle: The political row between BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) and BJP’s Anakapalle MP CM Ramesh has intensified, with both leaders hurling serious allegations at each other involving high-value government contracts, party mergers and corruption cover-ups.

What began with KTR’s accusation of a Rs 1,660 crore road contract allegedly awarded to a firm linked to CM Ramesh has now exploded into a full-blown political slugfest with claims and counterclaims.

Ramesh dismisses KTR’s charges as ‘baseless, politically motivated’

Addressing the media, CM Ramesh denied KTR’s allegation that he influenced the Telangana government to award a Rs 1,660 crore road contract to Rithwik Company in return for political favours.

“I have no connection to these contracts. The allegation that I used chief minister Revanth Reddy to influence these decisions is entirely false and politically motivated,” Ramesh said, while attributing the timing of the charges to growing internal turmoil within the BRS.

Drawing parallels with Andhra politics, Ramesh alleged that just as former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy faces dissent from his sister, KTR too is grappling with internal party rifts that are influencing his public outbursts.

‘KTR visited my residence, sought BRS-BJP merger’

In a dramatic claim, Ramesh also alleged that KTR had visited his residence in New Delhi to propose a merger of the BRS with the BJP in exchange for shielding MLC K Kavitha from ongoing corruption investigations.

“If KTR denies the meeting, I am ready to release CCTV footage,” Ramesh said. “He wanted help to protect Kavitha, but I informed senior BJP leaders and made it clear I would not support a corrupt party.”

Ramesh further claimed that when he questioned KTR about the marginalisation of senior BRS leader Tummala Nageswara Rao, the former IT minister reportedly responded that the party didn’t need leaders from the Kamma community.

He also accused KTR of targeting him out of fear that a BJP-TDP alliance could emerge as a formidable force in Telangana. “During the BRS’s 10-year rule, projects worth Rs 7 lakh crore were awarded. I have records of who benefited in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh,” Ramesh added, challenging KTR to a public debate.

KTR hits back, alleges return favour between Ramesh and Revanth

Not backing down, KTR reiterated his charges during the BRS Vidyarthi Wing meeting, claiming that the Rs 1,660 crore road contract was awarded as a quid pro quo. He alleged that in return, the BJP-led Centre handed over a Rs 1,137 crore AMRUT contract to CM Revanth Reddy’s brother-in-law.

“Could there be a more shameful quid pro quo? They mortgaged Hyderabad Central University land for Rs 10,000 crore in loans and handed out road contracts as a return gift,” KTR said. He described both Ramesh and Revanth as being ‘in disarray like rats caught in a trap.’

He rubbished claims of attempting a BRS-BJP merger, calling it a diversionary tactic to deflect from Congress’s alleged scandals. “The BRS was born for Telangana and will never merge with any party, not now, not ever,” he asserted.

Allegations of surrendering Telangana's Water Rights

Further intensifying his attack on the Congress government, KTR accused CM Revanth Reddy of acting as a ‘puppet’ of Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu. He claimed that Revanth had compromised Telangana’s rights over surplus Godavari waters through the Banakacherla project.