BRS protests rock Telangana Assembly over Raghava Constructions, CM Revanth hits back KCR

Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly witnessed high drama on Sunday. BRS members staged protests over the Raghava Constructions issue and demanded action against Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy.

On the other side, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy hit back with serious allegations against BRS president and former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and former minister T Harish Rao over the Kaleshwaram project and alleged illegal land deals.

BRS stages protest in Assembly

Tensions flared as BRS legislators intensified their agitation both outside and inside the Assembly. Party members displayed placards en route to the House and raised slogans demanding a House Committee probe into Raghava Constructions.

Inside, they protested near the Speaker’s podium and attempted to enter the Well, but were stopped by marshals, leading to chaotic scenes.

Demand to remove Ponguleti

The opposition also demanded that Minister Ponguleti be sacked from the Cabinet, alleging irregularities in land-related matters and questioning the government’s inaction.

What did the CM say?

Responding strongly, CM Revanth alleged that Harish Rao’s family was involved in illegal land transactions in Balanagar mandal of Mahabubnagar district.

He claimed that Harish Rao’s brother, Mahesh Rao, coerced private industrialists and facilitated the transfer of hundreds of acres through the Dharani portal.

The Chief Minister also alleged that Harish Rao had approached Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy seeking help as his relatives were implicated in the issue, but the minister refused. He said attempts were now being made to target Ponguleti after his refusal.

CM Revanth asserted that the government is preparing a comprehensive report and made it clear that it would not tolerate any attempts to deflect the issue.

House committee challenges to the BRS

The Chief Minister said the government is ready to constitute a House Committee to probe the land allegations if Harish Rao agrees to it.

“If KTR and other BRS leaders believe Harish Rao is honest, they should support a House Committee probe,” he said, throwing an open challenge to the opposition.

Kaleshwaram issue rekindled

Revanth Reddy also revived the Kaleshwaram controversy, alleging large-scale irregularities involving the KCR family. He pointed out that even senior BJP leaders had earlier made similar allegations.

He recalled that Union Minister G Kishan Reddy had stated KCR and Harish Rao would be jailed within 48 hours if the case was handed over to the CBI. However, despite referring the case, no action has been taken so far.

“Months have passed, but there is no progress. The investigation appears to have been stalled,” he said.

Questions for BJP, allegations of political nexus

The Chief Minister questioned the BJP’s inaction and accused it of political collusion with the BRS, alleging that both parties worked together during parliamentary elections.

He also criticised BJP legislators for raising issues in the Assembly and walking out, while failing to act on their own allegations that the Kaleshwaram project functioned as an ‘ATM’ for the BRS.

Calls for wider probe into BRS regime

Several ruling party MLAs, including Danam Nagender, Kadiyam Srihari, Mandula Samuel and Rajender Reddy, accused the previous BRS government of widespread corruption and urged the Speaker to order a House Committee probe into land irregularities during its tenure.

The sharp exchange of allegations and protests has further escalated political tensions in Telangana, with the ruling Congress and opposition BRS locked in a fierce war of words over corruption, governance and accountability.