Congress will win 14 of 17 LS seats: CM Revanth; defends calling Modi 'Bade Bhai'

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy exuded confidence to win 14 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the forthcoming polls.

“Congress party is confident that it will win 14 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana and will consider the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as a referendum on its leadership,” he said.

Talking to the media, Revanth Reddy said, “Winning 14 Lok Sabha seats is our goal. We've got the message out loud. Based on how we've performed over the last few months, people should cast their ballot for the Congress party as the administration is transparent. Once the Congress Working Committee (CWC) gives its approval, the first list of candidates to be contested for the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana may be revealed on March 7 or 8.”

Rahul Gandhi should contest as an MP from Telangana

Revanth Reddy also made it clear that he would not support any member of his family to contest in the Lok Sabha polls, unlike the KCR family. "We desire Rahul Gandhi to contest as an MP from Telangana. It's wishful thinking. If Rahul contests, Telangana will have more respect,” he remarked.

The chief minister also made a call to the populace to vote after evaluating the Congress government's performance over the previous three months.

BJP, BRS have covert agreement

Revanth Reddy pointed out that as part of their covert agreement, the BJP and BRS have declared their candidacies. He even questioned the BRS's decision to not declare candidates for the Chevella and Medak seats if this was not the case, making light of the BSP's alliance with the BRS by saying that some clouds were clearing.

NSDA to release report on Medigadda Lakshmi Barrage

The chief minister said the state government informed the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), and the agency also set up a committee to look into it.

"The Congress party works for the poorest of the poor and that is the agenda," Revanth Reddy said in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that the Kaleshwaram Project has turned into a new `ATM’ for the party.

Revanth Reddy stated that the state government wrote to the Telangana High Court Chief Justice, asking him to assign a sitting judge to look into the matter. However, the High Court expressed its inability to spare a judge. The chief minister claimed NDSA will submit a report in four months.

Revanth defends his reference to Modi as ‘big brother’

About his moniker "Bade Bhai" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a formal meeting on Monday, Revanth Reddy defended referring to the Prime Minister as an elder brother, claiming that other nations typically refer to America as `big brother’.

Revanth defends move to approach Adani for investments

The chief minister also defended the state government's move to approach the Adani Group for investments, stating that the company was being given equal opportunities to make investments, just like any other industrialist. “Anything that may be given to the Adani Group for free or at a reduced cost would go against the interests of the people. The Congress government was not taking any such action. Investments and job possibilities were being attracted,” he said.

Reiterating that the Parliamentary elections would conclude in four months, Revanth Reddy stated that the State government was not in a rush to begin work. He accused BRS leaders of engaging in meaningless, decorative arguments, particularly former irrigation minister Harish Rao.

Rythu Bharosa no longer for taxpayers

“The Rythu Bharosa (for now, Rythu Bandhu) will no longer be given to taxpayers. Only those engaged in agriculture will get it. The issue will be discussed in the Assembly and a decision will be taken,” the chief minister said.

Revanth seeks help for expansion of Hyderabad metro rail, other projects

Revanth Reddy implored Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assist the state government in extending Hyderabad's metro rail system and developing the city's Musi riverside. The chief minister, his cabinet colleagues, and other dignitaries bid farewell to Modi, who was in Telangana for two days, at the Begumpet airport.

With a list of requests for assistance from the Center, the chief minister gave Narendra Modi a memorandum that included the allocation of Central Jal Jeevan Mission funds to supply drinking water to every household in the state.

He also requested for IIM Hyderabad and reviewed IPS cadre allocation to Telangana. Despite NTPC's 4,000 MW of power generation capacity in the state, only 1,600 MW could be realized by the previous government. The Center should assist the state in realizing the remaining 2,400 MW, he said.

The state government also requested the prime minister to persuade Maharashtra to allow land acquisition and other matters to build the state's planned Tummidihetti lift irrigation project. Along with seeking assistance from the union government on several issues, the chief minister requested the Centre to build an elevated corridor through the Amrabad tiger reserve on the Hyderabad-Srisailam National Highway.