A.P. and Telangana resolve key river water issues in New Delhi meeting
The outcome was hailed as constructive and cordial by Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu in a press conference after the meeting.
Mr. Ramanaidu said the meeting, attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart A. Revanth Reddy, the Water Ministers, irrigation officials, engineers from both States and Central Water Commission (CWC) representatives, yielded decisions on three major issues.
Both States agreed to install telemeters on the outflows from reservoirs into canals to ensure transparency and data sharing.
A consensus was reached to preserve the Srisailam project, a symbol of Telugu heritage. Both States agreed to implement CWC recommendations and expert suggestions promptly concerning repairs and plunge pool protection.
It was decided that the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) would be headquartered in Amaravati, while the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) would remain in Hyderabad, settling a long-pending issue.
Joint panel on Banakacherla project
Mr. Ramanaidu said that the Polavaram-Banakacherla project concerns raised by Telangana over A.P.'s proposal would be addressed positively.
Given the technical complexity, both States agreed to form a joint committee comprising administrative and technical experts under the CWC's supervision.
The committee is expected to be constituted by Monday. The committee will also assess the annual 3000 tmc ft of the Godavari water flowing into the sea and explore options for its optimal utilisation.
Mr. Ramanaidu praised the cooperative spirit of the meeting, calling it a 'positive milestone' that reinforces Telugu unity despite administrative and political differences.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Wire
23 minutes ago
- The Wire
A Political Soup is on the Boil for Telangana's BJP
Politics Pavan Korada This feud between the two Telangana BJP leaders is the first and most severe test for the new state party president, N. Ramachander Rao, a veteran appointed to quell such factionalism. New Delhi: An uneasy ceasefire holds in Telangana's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but it is a thin veil over a deep schism that has burst into public view. The war of words between Malkajgiri MP Etela Rajender and Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar is more than a clash of personalities. It is the peak of a long-simmering power struggle rooted in ambition and political culture. Critically, it is a conflict between the party's two most prominent Backward Class (OBC) leaders, threatening the BJP's core strategy for social expansion in the state. This feud is the first and most severe test for the new state president, N. Ramachander Rao, a veteran appointed to quell such factionalism. Instead, the conflict has intensified, exposing fault lines that could derail the party's ambitions where it once seemed poised for growth. Anatomy of a public feud The trigger was a visit by Bandi Sanjay to Huzurabad, an assembly segment in his Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat. He questioned the loyalty of unnamed leaders and alleged a conspiracy to cut his vote share in the parliamentary polls. "Should we give the party ticket to such a candidate?" he asked, a clear reference to upcoming local elections. The target was unmistakable. Etela Rajender, who represented Huzurabud for multiple terms and sees it as his bastion, took the remarks as a direct challenge. His response was swift and theatrical. Gathering hundreds of supporters at his home, Rajender launched a furious counter-attack. Without naming Sanjay, he unleashed a personal tirade. "Who is he? Is he a psycho, a sadist, a human or an animal?" he charged. Using familiar Telugu terms, " kodaka" (son) and " ra" (a disrespectful 'you'), he warned, "Be careful, son, be careful." The fallout was immediate. Goutham Reddy, a close Rajender aide and the BJP's in-charge for Huzurabad, resigned from his post and the party. His letter cited the "suppression of Etela's faction", giving an official name to a problem the party's leadership prefers not to acknowledge. The BJP's high command has since imposed a gag order. But the damage was done. The conflict was no longer a backroom whisper; it was a public spectacle. The original sin of removing a president To understand the feud, one must revisit a key moment; the unexpected removal of Bandi Sanjay from the state presidency in mid-2023. At the time, Sanjay was at his peak. His aggressive Praja Sangrama Yatra had electrified the party cadre and positioned him as the main challenger to the ruling BRS and its chief, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had praised his efforts. His ouster seemed politically incomprehensible. Many believed it was the result of an internal campaign led by Etela Rajender, who had joined the BJP after his own rebellion against KCR. Rajender's by-election victory in Huzurabad was built on an anti-KCR "victim" narrative and his status as a formidable BC leader who could unite the opposition. Sanjay's removal created a damaging perception; that the BJP had struck a secret deal with the BRS. The narrative proved disastrous. The energised anti-KCR vote, now distrustful of the BJP, swung to the Congress, which swept to power. The BJP's image was shattered and its election results were a deep disappointment. For Sanjay's loyalists, this history is a story of internal betrayal that fuels the current fight. The high stakes of OBC politics This strife comes at a critical time. According to the state's recent caste survey, backward classes (BCs) make up a staggering 56.33% of Telangana's population. This demographic makes the OBC vote the single-most decisive bloc in state politics. The BJP's growth strategy depends on winning a large share of this community, a goal it has stressed by repeatedly promising a "BC chief minister." In fact, it nominated R. Krishnaiah, president of the National BC Welfare Association, to the Rajya Sabha recently. The spectacle of its two top OBC leaders in a public, personal feud shatters this narrative. It projects weakness and disunity to the very community the party is trying to court. The appointment of N. Ramachander Rao, a Brahmin, as state president – bypassing a top BC contender like Rajender – already surprised many observers. While the party called it a move to bring in a "quiet organiser", the decision is now seen through the lens of this conflict, suggesting that internal power balancing came before the broader social project. A collision of cultures The feud represents a clash of political cultures. Bandi Sanjay is a product of the BJP-RSS ecosystem, a homegrown ideologue whose OBC identity is part of the larger Hindutva framework. After being removed as president, he accepted the party's decision and took on a national role. His loyalty was ultimately to the institution. Etela Rajender is a powerful import from a different political world. A former radical Left student leader, his identity is primarily that of a major BC leader and a key figure in the Telangana statehood movement. A seven-time MLA and former finance minister in KCR's cabinet, his career in the BRS was built on a strong personal brand. His style, common in regional parties, sees a loyal faction as a source of strength. Observers suggest his error may be applying these methods within the BJP, a centralised party where open factionalism is anathema. While his Huzurabad win showed his personal appeal, his recent victory in Malkajgiri depended heavily on the BJP's organisation and the 'Modi wave' – a key distinction from the party's perspective. The endgame: pressure, exit or stalemate? With the conflict open, analysts see several outcomes. One view is that this is a high-stakes pressure tactic. Having helped force a leadership change once, Rajender may believe he can create another crisis. He has always aimed to be the party's Chief Ministerial face. He may be angling for a Union Cabinet post or another key role, assuming he is too influential to sideline. A second possibility is an exit. Yet, his options are difficult. A ghar wapsi (homecoming) to the BRS seems unlikely. The ruling Congress is already crowded with ambitious leaders. Launching a new BC-based party is a huge risk in a state where regional identity has proven stronger than caste, at least for now. This leaves the BJP in a dilemma. Punishing a prominent BC leader like Rajender could alienate a crucial vote bank and warn off other potential leaders. But inaction is just as risky. It undermines the new state president, shatters the party's image of discipline, and demoralises the cadre. Worse, it makes a mockery of its own OBC outreach. The future of the Telangana BJP now hinges on resolving this internal war. The choice is not just about managing two ambitious leaders; it is about salvaging its most important political project in the state. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
What is their party position? Shashi Tharoor on snub by Kerala Congress
MP Shashi Tharoor said there was no basis to the charges by a section of Congress leaders over his stance on the national security issue, asserting that he was "not at all" worried about his future with the to the media outside Parliament, Tharoor attempted to play down the apparent tensions with the Congress leadership even as he took a swipe at the party's Kerala asked about Kerala Congress leader K Muraleedharan's remark that he would not be invited to any party event in the state, a visibly unfazed Tharoor gave a cryptic response. "The people who are saying this should have some basis for saying so. Who are they? What is their party position? I want to know. Then we will see. Don't ask me about the behaviour of others. I can talk about my behaviour," the four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram asked if he was worried about the developments, Tharoor replied promptly, "Not at all".SHASHI THAROOR'S 'LOYALTY' REMARKSince the beginning of the year, Tharoor has stirred the Congress brass with his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and public endorsements of the government's political spat escalated on Sunday after Muraleedharan said Tharoor, despite being a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), was "no longer one of us"."Till he (Tharoor) changes his stance, we will not invite him to any party programme held in Thiruvananthapuram. He is not with us, so there is no question of him boycotting an event," Muraleedharan told response came after Tharoor said at an event in Kochi that the nation always came first and parties were the means of making the country Congress MP also shared a video of his response to the "inevitable question" about his alleged rift with the party."Which is your first loyalty? To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better," he for months now, the friction between Tharoor and the Congress became more pronounced after the Kerala MP accepted the Centre's invitation to lead an all-party delegation to garner support for Operation later, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge publicly chided Tharoor without naming him, saying, "For the Congress, it is country first, but for some people, it is Modi first."- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Who are they, what is their party position: Tharoor hits back at K. Muraleedharan
Days after Kerala Congress leader K Muraleedharan's scathing criticism of him, party MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) asked who are these people making such remarks and what party position they hold. Also Read | Murali calls Tharoor's Modi praise 'quite disgusting' in first open attack from Kerala Mr. Muraleedharan on Sunday hit out at Mr. Tharoor again, saying that he will not be invited to any party programme in the state capital till he changes his stance on the national security issue. Mr. Muraleedharan said Mr. Tharoor, also a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, was no longer considered "one of us". Also Read | BJP questions Congress over not nominating Tharoor for delegation on Operation Sindoor Asked about the remarks, Mr. Tharoor told reporters, "First of all, it seems to me that the people saying this also have to have a basis for saying this. Who are they? What is their party's position? I would like to know." Speaking with reporters, Mr. Muraleedharan had said, "Till he (Tharoor) changes his stance, we will not invite him to any party programme held in Thiruvananthapuram. He is not with us, so there is no question of him boycotting an event." His response had come a day after Mr. Tharoor had said that the nation comes first and parties are the means of making the country better. The Congress MP had also said that a lot of people have been very critical of him because of his stand supporting the armed forces and the central government in connection with what happened recently in the country and its borders. "But I will stand my ground, because I believe this is the right thing for the country," Mr. Tharoor had said at an event in Kochi on Saturday. Mr. Tharoor had also said that when people like him call for cooperating with other parties in the interests of national security, their own parties feel that it's disloyal to them, and that becomes a big problem. Mr. Muraleedharan had earlier hit out at Mr. Tharoor over the sharing of a survey suggesting he is UDF's most preferred choice for Chief Minister, saying "he should first decide which party he belongs to".
