In a bid to ensure timely disbursement of funds under various government welfare schemes, including the Rythu Bandhu, the President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, A Revanth Reddy, has urged that all beneficiaries receive their entitled cash benefits by November 2. This demand comes as Telangana prepares for state elections scheduled for November 30.
Accompanied by several party members, Revanth Reddy recently visited the Election Commission of India (ECI) to emphasize the urgency of releasing the funds before November. The Congress members expressed concerns that Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao might attempt to delay the disbursement of these funds.
Notable attendees at the party’s briefing included AICC’s in-charge of Telangana, Manikrao Thakre, Lok Sabha MP Uttam Kumar Reddy, and Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.
The Congress party’s primary objective is to ensure that cash benefits are distributed to beneficiaries by November 2, 2023, well in advance of the State Assembly Elections slated for November 30.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Revanth Reddy stated, “Yesterday, a petition was submitted to the Central Election Officer on behalf of the Congress party, wherein officials responsible for welfare schemes were named. It was explicitly emphasized that the entire fund transfer process must be completed a few days before the official election notification.”
Addressing concerns about the alleged misuse of official facilities, such as the chief minister’s residence and MLAs’ camp offices for political activities, Reddy added, “These facilities, funded by public resources, are currently being employed for political purposes. Given the implementation of the moral code of conduct, we have urged the ECI to prevent the use of these government properties for the activities of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party and other political purposes.”
Moreover, Revanth Reddy accused top officers, particularly those from the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and Indian Police Services (IPS), of working against the interests of the Congress party in the state. He characterized their actions as akin to operating a “private army” in service to the BRS government and revealed that the party has filed several complaints in this regard.
The TPCC chief further appealed to the ECI to retire these officials from service to maintain a fair electoral process. “The BJP and BRS are exploiting government institutions in their efforts to undermine the Congress in Telangana elections. Certain officers have remained in the same positions for extended periods, facilitating funding for the BRS party. Retired officers are being given regular assignments, effectively deploying them as a ‘private army’ to hinder the opposition party,” he contended.
Lok Sabha MP Uttam Reddy echoed these concerns and informed the Election Commission about the party’s request to designate IAS and IPS officers as SPs and collectors in all districts. He also provided specific officer names who appear to prioritize party agendas over their governmental responsibilities.
Revanth Reddy seized the opportunity to discuss the Medigadda barrage and the Kaleshwaram project, raising questions about the chief minister’s apparent silence on these matters. He accused the government of failing to conduct proper soil tests and technical assessments before undertaking the Kaleshwaram project and suggested that Chief Minister Rao was avoiding accountability.
In a bold move, Revanth Reddy expressed his readiness to contest the November 30 Assembly polls against CM Rao in the Kamareddy constituency if called upon to do so.
