One month in, CM Shivakumar’s government faces cabinet expansion test
Congress will be counting on the new government’s performance for the 2028 polls, but how those left out respond will also be crucial. Earlier this week, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s government completed one month in office. Although it is a short period to judge a government’s performance, the change of guard seems to have brought fresh energy to the administration, which looked jaded, especially in the last few months of Siddaramaiah’s tenure. After recovering from the initial shock of the portfolio allocation, with two senior ministers sulking, the CM has managed to keep the spotlight on his government rather than on the political uncertainty in his party. Unlike his predecessor, the CM has avoided open confrontation with the Union government, and has so far refrained from joining his party leaders in the state in aggressively criticising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). However, it is just the beginning, and the Congress government has a long way to go. Maintaining the same tempo and cohesiveness in the government is a Herculean task, especially after the expansion of the cabinet. The government presently functions with just 13 ministers out of a 34-member-capacity cabinet. Of these, only two are new faces, and the rest were part of the previous cabinet. If the Congress leadership decides to give a majority of the remaining berths to new faces, the seniors hoping to return to the cabinet would be aggrieved. However, if most seniors are accommodated again, it would leave new aspirants disappointed. Either way, it’s a tricky situation. Congress will be counting on the new government’s performance for the 2028 polls, but how those left out respond will also be crucial. It would be interesting to see how the party strikes a balance between the loyalists of Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in the cabinet expansion. On the administrative front, key portfolios like agriculture and education do not have full-time ministers, with the portfolios vested with the CM. Several districts in the state are staring at a drought-like situation, and water levels in the reservoirs are low. The government has asked farmers to temporarily avoid cultivating crops relying on dam water. While the CM holds multiple meetings in the state capital, the ministers are hardly seen in action on the ground. If they fail to make amends, the government risks being branded as Bengaluru-centric. That apart, some of the decisions, like the tightening of guarantee schemes and the ambitious plan to develop Bidadi township on the outskirts of Bengaluru, need to be handled deftly. The Bidadi township issue should not be seen merely as a Congress against JDS/BJP issue, but concerns of all farmers must be taken into account, while also keeping in mind plans to develop townships to decongest Bengaluru. However, the state capital’s development cannot come at the cost of farmers, who depend solely on agricultural land for their livelihood. As for the flagship guarantee schemes, it is never a bad idea to fine-tune them. The exercise to weed out ineligible beneficiaries has started. The state government must be prudent with spending and ensure that the schemes benefit the most needy. At the same time, this should not merely become a cost-cutting exercise that amounts to the Congress government going back on its 2023 election promise. The departments handling the revision exercise should be sensitive not just to the letter, but also to the spirit of the government’s direction. Meanwhile, the CM has also announced the formation of guarantee committees with five members in each of the 7,000 panchayats and 4,000 wards. This will be in addition to the existing guarantee committees at state, district and taluk levels. The committees are tasked with the effective implementation of the schemes. On one hand, the government is tightening the schemes to avoid unnecessary expenditure, but at the same time, it is adding thousands of members to guarantee committees. What will their role be in each panchayat or ward when the benefits are directly reaching citizens, and officials are mandated to ensure that? It may be a good move to strengthen the party cadre at the grassroots, but at whose cost? Also, the CM’s announcement of forming 10,000 ‘Bharat Jodo’ youth associations in each panchayat and ward with a grant of Rs 10 lakh has faced flak from the BJP, which terms it as an attempt to put taxpayers’ money into Congress workers’ pockets. Although the government claims that guidelines would be issued for the formation of associations without political interference, it is anybody’s guess as to what extent they will actually be non-political. In the last 30 days in office, the new CM has given ample indication that he is a man in a hurry, unwilling to let go of any opportunity to put his stamp on the administration and consolidate his position within the party. Ramu Patil Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Why Congress Backed Vijay After the Election | Q&A with TNIE | Kaveree Bamzai | Praveen Chakravarty
Did the Congress miss an opportunity by not aligning with Vijay before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections? In this exclusive interview, Rajya Sabha MP Praveen Chakravarty opens up about the data that predicted Vijay’s rise, why Congress eventually decided to support him, and what the party learnt from the Tamil Nadu verdict. He also discusses: Why young voters rejected traditional politics Congress’ internal debates on the Vijay alliance Rahul Gandhi’s role after the election The changing aspirations of Gen Z voters Lessons for the Congress ahead of the 2029 General Election The future of Tamil Nadu politics Watch the full conversation for an in-depth analysis of one of the biggest political shifts in Tamil Nadu. Subscribe to The New Indian Express for more exclusive interviews and political analysis. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
AMMA crisis deepens as Revathy, Padmapriya quit, cite ‘patriarchy and power politics’
WCC members resign from the Malayalam actors’ body, saying their demand for safer workplaces and accountability has gone unheard. KOCHI: The crisis within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) deepened on Monday with actors Revathy and Padmapriya resigning from their primary membership in the organisation, saying it had increasingly become shaped by “patriarchy and power politics”. In a joint statement released on social media, the two actors said that for nearly a decade, their demand had remained unchanged – safer workplaces, dignity, accountability and equal treatment for every member. “The price of asking, for us, has been silence and distance. From colleagues, from friends, from spaces that once felt like home. Still, we stayed. For hope has a remarkable ability to survive disappointment,” they said. The duo further stated that resignations following the release of the Hema Committee report were “not an act of principle” but “an escape from accountability”. Revathy and Padmapriya are members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), formed in 2017 to push for structural reforms in the Malayalam film industry after the 2017 actor assault case. “AMMA was meant to stand as a collective voice for all actors. But it has become increasingly shaped by patriarchy and power politics, weakening its founding ideals. Walking away for us now is not defeat. It is self-respect,” the statement said, adding that they would continue to work towards a more equitable film industry outside the organisation. Their resignations come at a time when AMMA is facing one of the biggest crises in its history. The executive committee headed by president Shwetha Menon resigned following the association’s annual general body meeting on June 21, where members voted to remove the committee over alleged irregularities and appointed an ad hoc committee headed by actor and MLA Ramesh Pisharody to oversee the organisation until fresh elections. However, Menon later asserted that she continued to be AMMA president and described the ad hoc committee as “illegitimate”. The standoff intensified after Pisharody stepped down from the ad hoc committee last week. The turmoil has been compounded by fresh allegations from actors, including Ansiba Hassan and Maala Parvathi, who accused Menon and her supporters of communal polarisation.Meanwhile, industry stalwarts Mammootty and Mohanlal have largely remained silent, refraining from publicly taking sides as the crisis continues to escalate. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Manjhi lashed out at Chirag, saying, “You took seats by lying; you gave us a rattle.” He advised his son, “Santosh… you should also speak up, what is visible sells.”
“Santosh, you should also speak up… nothing is achieved by keeping your mouth shut. What is visible sells. It is important to remain active in politics and put your point across to the public.” Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi made these remarks while addressing an event. Without naming Chirag Paswan, the national president of NDA ally LJP (R). Manjhi said, “You took all the seats you wanted by lying. What did you get? You were given a rattle. Some women who wear bangles remain silent, while others keep jingling. You too should jingle your bangles.” He also said, “There is very little discussion on Dalit issues in Parliament. Today, only MP Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’ strongly raises Dalit issues. I have also guided him in this direction in parliamentary politics.” Manjhi took a dig at Chirag Paswan – “Do you want to become a martyr by cutting your nails?” During the event, Jitan Ram Manjhi took a dig at Chirag Paswan without naming him. He said, “What kind of people are there who do anything for political gain? One man says, ‘No one can abolish the Constitution and reservation as long as I am here.’ Do you want to become a martyr by cutting your nails? I say that as long as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is here and Samrat Chaudhary is here, no one can harm the Constitution and reservation. Another man says, ‘Nothing can happen as long as we are here… Hey, who are you?” He alleged that in the name of Dalits and reservation, some people took more seats and even won elections, while his party did not get its due. For some, Samrat is a thorn in their eyes. Addressing the event, Jitan Ram Manjhi praised Samrat Chaudhary. He said, “There are many people in politics who consider Samrat Chaudhary a thorn in their eyes.” Manjhi also made several statements regarding Dalit issues, reservation, NDA politics, and the current political situation in Bihar. He said that for the real development of Dalits, a separate electoral system and equal education system are needed. Manjhi said, “Today the world has reached the moon, but the Dalit community is still stuck there. Until a separate electoral system and equal education system are implemented for Dalits, their real development is not possible.” Advice given to son Santosh Manjhi Referring to his son and HAM Party national president Santosh Kumar Suman, Jitan Ram Manjhi said that he should pay more attention to issue-based politics. He said that it is important to carry forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s politics and his development model. If the party works seriously in this direction, it can reach the top. Courtesy: Hindi News
New state, old script: Infighting returns to haunt Congress’s Punjab poll plan
NEW DELHI: The Congress is staring at a crisis in Punjab. Does this read as a surprise? Well, not really! It’s the same old story of infighting and power tussle between the state leaders which has played out so many times for the Congress in so many states in the last one decade. Remember Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and yes, also Punjab in the run up to the 2022 assembly elections. Each of these states had the same story unfolding almost in a similar pattern. Step 1: Making of the crisis – power tussle between state leaders. Step 2: Incubation period – a procrastinating Congress high command preferring to look the other way Step 3: Cosmetic actions – Verbal warnings and probe panels to find the obvious and delay real action Step 4: The rebellion – a delayed or at times no meaningful intervention pushing one faction to revolt Step 5: The defections – disgruntled leaders leaving the party for greener pastures making it easy for the leadership as they no longer need to act Step 6: Electoral defeat – And finally, a loss in the elections Well, this may read harsh. But this is closer to the truth. Analyse the crisis in each of the states mentioned above and you will find this pattern playing out step by step – perhaps with some variations. In most of these states, leadership tussle was allowed to blossom into a full blown crisis because of the reluctance of Congress high command to intervene decisively at the right time. Congress Punjab crisis Now, let’s look at the crisis brewing in Punjab. Around 10 days back, Rahul Gandhi – the “Bhagya Vidhata” of the Congress – gave a pep talk to the leaders in Punjab. This is what he said: “You have to fight collectively, Punjab is an important state, and we stand a very good chance … ” Some questions: What has the Congress done to ensure that its leaders in Punjab fight unitedly? What ground work has the party done since its last defeat in the state to claim that it has a very good chance? Now, either Rahul Gandhi was not briefed about the real ground situation in poll-bound Punjab or he was intentionally ignoring the obvious and following the drill of pep talk. Whatever be the reason, the cracks in Punjab Congress are now out in the open. And it took just one decision from the high command to trigger this crisis. Ironically, a close look and you realise that even this decision, which was perhaps over four years late, steered clear of any change and focussed on maintaining the status quo in the state. Congress3 Decision four years late? Well, it was in 2022 that the Congress was decimated in Punjab by Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP. The grand-old-party came down from 77 to 18 while the AAP went up from 20 to 95. That sums up the story of the 2022 elections. The Congress had four long years to rejig the state organisation and give the new leadership time to prepare for the 2027 elections. Dissents if any would have been handled with time. But then we all know that the Congress does not believe in the age old adage : “A stitch in time saves nine.” So, nothing happened till the next elections came knocking on the doors. And finally when the leadership eventually focused on Punjab – it triggered a crisis. The fact that this decision was to “maintain the status quo” meant that the state leaders who were hoping to get a prominent role were left disappointed. Senior leader Manish Tewari, who was assigned no role in the rejig, raised the first voice of dissent with a cryptic note on X in which he wished he had an antidote for the “insecurities of individuals” and “institutions”. Then followed former chief minister and 2022’s compromise candidate Charanjeet Singh Channi – who had led the Congress to its historic defeat five years back. Channi, who lost from both the assembly seats he contested then, is unhappy with the leadership after being ignored for the post of state president. Channi was appointed as the chairman of the campaign committee but did not bother with the customary thanks to the leadership in a subtle dissent. A meeting called by “unhappy” Channi to discuss the leadership issue was attended by several important state leaders posing a question mark on the Congress’s decision to continue with Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the state party chief. The BJP was quick to take digs at the Congress. Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, a former Congressman (remember Rahul Gandhi’s traitor jibe that stirred a storm) who joined BJP in 2024, took a swipe at Warring. Bittu recalled a famous scene from Sholay. Drawing a parallel with Asrani’s iconic jailor, whose entire contingent marches away with commands of “right, left” while he is left standing alone, Ravneet Singh said a similar situation has unfolded in the Punjab Congress with Raja Warring retained on the top post. He said almost Raja Warring’s entire team has drifted towards Charanjit Channi, leaving the state Congress chief isolated. In a tongue-in-cheek remark, Bittu advised Warring to stop resisting the inevitable, join the “Channi wagon”, and head to Channi’s residence along with the rest of his colleagues. Congress4 Does faction-ridden Congress stand a chance in Punjab? Well, theoretically “yes”, but practically perhaps “no.” Punjab has traditionally been one of the best bets for the Congress over the years. The Congress has won five of the 13 assembly elections between 1966 and 2022 and as a party has given maximum chief ministers to the state. With Akalis the only challenger for years, the grand-old-party kept returning to power in the state despite controversies and infighting. Even the scars of 1984 – the operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh killings – did not cause a permanent harm to the party’s electoral prospects. Not any more. The 2022 assembly election changed the template.
‘Is Rahul Gandhi from Jandiala Guru?’: AAP taunts Congress over high command
Chandigarh: Mocking the Congress over its continuing internal turmoil in Punjab, the ruling AAP on Sunday accused the party of “double standards”, asking why it was waiting for directions from the high command after repeatedly attacking AAP over alleged remote control from Delhi. Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu said the Congress had criticised AAP by claiming it was being run from Delhi, but was now itself looking to the central leadership to resolve its internal crisis. “Is Rahul Gandhi from Jandiala Guru?” Pannu asked, taking a swipe at the Congress amid AICC in-charge Bhupesh Baghel’s visit to Punjab to meet party functionaries. Pannu said the Congress had become “directionless”, with its leaders consumed by an internal leadership battle instead of presenting an agenda for Punjab. He also alleged that the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal had become “Team A, B and C”, united only in targeting chief minister Bhagwant Mann because they had “no answer” to the AAP govt’s performance. Taking another swipe at the BJP, Pannu claimed the party had effectively become a “Congress wing” in Punjab, saying most of its prominent faces had crossed over from the Congress while its original leadership had been sidelined. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Samajwadi Party plans to field 100 Dalit, tribal candidates in UP assembly polls
The strategy is intended to project the SP as a party willing to provide Dalits greater political representation than the number of reserved constituencies. The Samajwadi Party (SP) is planning to field around 100 Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, including 14 candidates in general constituencies, as part of its strategy to strengthen its PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) alliance. According to party sources, the plan includes contesting all 84 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, both Scheduled Tribe seats, and around 14 general seats with Dalit candidates, subject to the availability of suitable nominees. Party leaders said the move is aimed at expanding the SP’s support beyond its traditional Yadav-Muslim base and attracting Dalit voters as the Bahujan Samaj Party’s electoral influence declines. “We are working on zeroing in on candidates from Dalit communities who can contest on general seats. While our target is to give 100 seats to the community, it will depend on suitable and strong candidates,” a party source said. The SP had fielded Dalit candidates in two general constituencies during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Awadhesh Prasad won from Faizabad, while Sunita Verma narrowly lost in Meerut. Party leaders said the strategy is intended to project the SP as a party willing to provide Dalits greater political representation than the number of reserved constituencies. The BSP, which once commanded a significant share of Dalit votes, won only one seat in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and failed to win any seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP and Congress have also intensified their outreach to Dalit voters ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. SP Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman expressed confidence that a significant section of Dalit voters would support the INDIA bloc, while party chief Akhilesh Yadav has urged voters not to back the BSP, arguing that a vote for the party would be wasted Courtesy : Madhyamam Note: This news is originally published on https:/madhyamam.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Historical necessity to make Rahul Gandhi PM’: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy
NEW DELHI: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday announced that Rahul Gandhi, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, should be the next Prime Minister, urging the people of Telangana to support his efforts to promote Gandhi as the country’s future leader. “The people of Telangana need to stand in support of this. We have a duty to express our gratitude to Sonia Gandhi, who granted us Telangana. Walk with me and let us make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister in 2029. And the first step towards this must be taken right here from Midjil Mandal,” he added. Addressing a public meeting after laying foundation stones for development works in Midjil Mandal, Reddy appealed to the public to express their gratitude to Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the statehood of Telangana by backing Rahul Gandhi’s prime ministerial bid. “Congress will remain in power until 2034. Congress must come back to power in the state, and Rahul Gandhi must become the Prime Minister of this country. There is a historical necessity in the country to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister,” Reddy said. Reddy’s appeal to the people of Telangana is significant, given that the state has traditionally been a Congress stronghold before the formation of the BRS. The Congress returned to power in Telangana in December 2023, ending the BRS’s 10-year rule, and has since been focusing on consolidating its position in the state. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Punjab Congress fault lines deepen ahead of 2027 polls; Warring denies factionalism
Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Saturday said former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is like his elder brother and there is no factionalism in the party. The fault lines in the Punjab Congress ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections are now clearly visible. While rejecting speculation about internal divisions, state unit president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Saturday said former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi is like his elder brother. He added that there is “no factionalism” in the party and expressed confidence that all senior leaders would appear together on a common stage within the next one or two days. Channi’s Delhi visit On the other hand, a day after a large number of senior Congress leaders, gathered at Channi’s residence, demanding that the party high command review its decision on the state leadership, the former chief minister left for Delhi on Saturday. Sources said Channi’s visit to Delhi has triggered speculation over possible efforts to break the political deadlock that has emerged in the state unit following recent organisational appointments made by the Congress ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Leaders close to Channi argue that the present arrangement has failed to enthuse workers at the grassroots level and that the party leadership needs to address their concerns before preparations for the Assembly polls gather momentum. They remain firm on their demand for a change in state leadership and have indicated that the dissident group could adopt a tougher stance if their concerns are ignored. Throughout these developments, Channi has maintained complete silence. Meanwhile, the dissident camp is awaiting a response from the party high command to its demand for a change in the Punjab Congress leadership. ‘Nothing unusual’ Warring said there was nothing unusual about Congress leaders gathering at Channi’s residence, describing the former chief minister as a senior leader and Chairman of the party’s Campaign Committee. “Channi is our elder brother, a senior leader, and former chief minister. If some Congress leaders meet at his house, there is nothing wrong with that. Tomorrow, leaders may gather at my residence or at Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa’s home as well. That should not be interpreted as infighting,” he said, adding that whenever Channi wants, he can meet the high command; nobody can stop him, and the senior leadership respects him. Warring further said that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress high command hold Channi in high regard, and there is nothing inappropriate about the former Chief Minister meeting the party leadership. He added that neither Channi nor any other senior leader has acted against party interests, and that strict action would be taken against those former MLAs or leaders found making statements against the party or indulging in indiscipline. ‘No leader above organisational rules’ Warring said that no leader, including himself, is above the organisation’s rules. “No one is allowed to cross the party’s limits, even if that person is the state president. Everyone must know their boundaries,” he said. He also urged party workers to exercise restraint and introspect before making public statements. ‘Tickets to contest polls would be allotted on merit’ On ticket distribution, Warring said tickets would be allotted on merit and that this decision was not in anyone’s control. “As far as tickets for the Assembly elections are concerned, everything will be on merit. If Raja Warring likes someone’s face or not, it will not matter. The person who is deserving will get the ticket. The high command will decide; our job is only to recommend. I do not know whose names will be shortlisted or rejected. After proper analysis, tickets will be given. This is the criteria of Rahul Gandhi,” he said. Warring added that the Congress wants to give tickets to common people and new faces, as India is a young country and youth should be better represented. “Tickets will be given to both experienced leaders and the youth in the coming elections,” he said. Meanwhile, his supporters have been posting messages claiming that only a small section of Congress leaders attended Friday’s meeting at Channi’s house, and that the overwhelming majority of the party continues to stand with the decision taken by the Congress high command. Harpreet Bajwa Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
KCR desperate for power as he wants to loot state: CM Revanth
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister vowed to work towards making Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi the prime minister. HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has alleged that BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao is desperate to return to power only to loot the state again, asserting that the opposition party has no future and has been confined to history. “The Congress will remain in power in Telangana till 2034. If the BRS returns to power, it will bring dark days to the state, as its leaders are preparing to loot Telangana once again,” he alleged. On Saturday, the chief minister addressed a thanksgiving meeting (Kruthagnatha Sabha) at Midjil in Mahbubnagar district to mark his political journey, which began 20 years ago when he was elected a ZPTC member in 2006. Apart from laying foundation stones for various development works worth Rs 47.08 crore, he interacted with local leaders who had worked with him during his early political days. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister vowed to work towards making Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi the prime minister. There is a historic need to make Rahul PM, says Revanth “The Congress should return to power at the Centre and Rahul should become the prime minister. His grandmother Indira Gandhi and his father Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for the country. There is a historic need to make Rahul the prime minister. The people of Telangana should thank Sonia Gandhi for fulfilling their dream of a separate state by working together to ensure Rahul becomes the prime minister. The first step towards that goal should begin from Midjil,” the chief minister said. Describing BRS chief KCR as an arrogant leader, Revanth alleged that he had made revolutionary balladeer Gaddar sit outside Pragathi Bhavan in the scorching sun. Listing his government’s achievements, Revanth said it had issued ration cards to eligible poor families, sanctioned pensions and Indiramma houses, distributed superfine rice, provided jobs to youth and ensured free power supply. He said the government had spent `80,000 crore on paddy procurement, `36,000 crore under Rythu Bharosa and `30,000 crore on free power for agriculture. In the last 30 months, it had spent `1.75 lakh crore on farmers and agriculture, he added, while alleging that the previous BRS government had left behind a debt burden of about `8.21 lakh crore. Revanth alleged that KCR had failed to fulfil promises of double-bedroom houses, three acres of land for every Dalit family and jobs for unemployed youth. “KCR got those who opposed illegal sand mining in Nerella assaulted, looted hundreds of crores and treated the leakage of competitive examination question papers without proper seriousness. He failed to provide water, houses, pensions, funds and jobs. Then why should he return to power? Why should Praja Palana go and the BRS come back?” he asked. Alleging that BRS leaders wanted to return to power because “their looting and source of income had stopped”, Revanth claimed Anti-Corruption Bureau investigations had uncovered officials possessing assets worth `200 crore to `300 crore. Questioning the wealth of the BRS leadership, he asked how KCR acquired a 1,000-acre farmhouse at Erravalli, Rama Rao a 100-acre farmhouse at Janwada, Harish a 50-acre farmhouse at Moinabad and Kalvakuntla Kavitha a 25-acre farmhouse at Shankarpally. Calling for Midjil to become a model mandal, Revanth urged Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to adopt it and monitor its development, while also asking Congress leaders to provide a suitable government position to Rabbani, who lost 2006 ZPTC polls. Revanth asserted that he had never taken leave or misused any public office during the last 20 years as a ZPTC member, MLC, MLA, MP and Chief Minister. “When I was in the Opposition, I fought for the people. Now, as chief minister, I am ensuring the welfare and development of the state. I was born in a village. I understand the problems of the people and their root causes,” he said. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights