Latest news with #OperationAkarsh
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP president questions govt. for not acting against politicians, contractors responsible for Kaleshwaram project lapses
The BJP has claimed that the Justice P.C. Ghosh Commission appointed to probe into the controversial Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme had revealed only a 'few facts', hence it warranted a full fledged investigation by the CBI to ferret out the entire truth, on Wednesday. Telangana State party president and former MLC N. Ramchander Rao also questioned why the Congress government has not arrested 'politicians' and 'contractors' involved in the project construction and maintenance lapses after arresting 'some officials' only. 'It is because of a nexus between the ruling Congress and BRS' he asked, while addressing the media at Sirpur Kagaznagar in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district as part of his ongoing tour. Mr. Rao has asserted that the party has never opposed projects that benefits the farmers but had opposed the corruption in Kaleshwaram project. The BRS leaders, including former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and family, had used the project as an 'ATM' and misused thousands of crores of rupees, he alleged. Poor quality of construction has led to cracks in the Medigadda barrage and other works. The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) had clearly pointed out to the design flaws and quality deficiencies, said the BJP leader. The former MLC also wanted the State government to consider construction of a separate project at the confluence of Wardha and Wainganga rivers near Tummadihatti to solve the water shortage of the region and irrigate about 2.5 lakh acres. If the Congress government prepares a detailed project report (DPR) and sends the same to the Central government for approval, there would be total cooperation, he said. The BJP leader said the Congress government is no different from the previous regime and has been diverting the funds disbursed by the Centre for development of villages for other purposes. The Centre is prepared to approve an airport in Asifabad district if the State government provides the land, he assured and explained that national highway projects worth ₹3,900 crore have been initiated in the area. Replying to a question on 'Operation Akarsh' the BJP chief said politicians are 'voluntarily' approaching the party since they consider it to be the only alternative in Telangana.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
As local polls loom, Telangana BJP launches ‘Operation Akarsh' to woo BRS leaders
Hyderabad: With local body elections approaching and the Kaleswaram Commission report casting a shadow over the BRS, the BJP has launched a fresh political offensive, 'Operation Akarsh,' aimed at drawing disgruntled BRS leaders into its fold. The first visible shift came on Monday, when former MLA Guvvala Balaraju resigned from the BRS. According to party insiders, several influential leaders from Khammam and Nalgonda districts are now in talks with BJP functionaries and are likely to switch sides soon. The BJP, which has historically underperformed in these districts, sees this as a crucial opportunity to strengthen its base. The timing is key. The BRS is still reeling from back-to-back setbacks — a poor showing in the assembly elections, followed by a big loss in the Lok Sabha polls. In the aftermath, 10 of its MLAs defected to the ruling Congress. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Now, sources suggest that several former MLAs and prominent leaders from the erstwhile Mahbubnagar district — the home turf of chief minister A Revanth Reddy — are also preparing to exit the BRS and join the BJP. Some are already in advanced talks with senior BJP leaders at the district level. Confirming the outreach, Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao told TOI: "Yes, some BRS leaders have approached us. Our focus is to strengthen the party ahead of the local polls. Any decisions will be made after careful evaluation. We cannot name anyone at this stage." With the BRS reduced to just 39 assembly seats and drawing a blank in the Lok Sabha elections, the party is facing internal discontent and a credibility crisis — giving rivals like the BJP a window to make strategic gains ahead of the next round of elections, a senior political analyst said.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress preps to revive ‘Op Akarsh' to rope in more BRS MLAs
1 2 Hyderabad: With the Supreme Court setting a three-month deadline for the assembly speaker to decide on the disqualification of turncoat MLAs, the ruling Congress is all set to revive its 'Operation Akarsh' and go all out to rope in more BRS MLAs in a bid to escape the anti-defection law. The ruling party needs 16 more BRS legislators to merge the BRS Legislature Party (BRSLP) with the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). The BRS won 39 assembly seats in the 2023 assembly election but lost the Secunderabad Cantonment constituency in the 2024 bypoll. So far, 10 BRS legislators have joined the Congress after the assembly election. As per the anti-defection law, unless two-thirds of a party's legislators defect, the defectors are liable to be disqualified. In such cases, by-elections have to be held as legislators will have to resign after switching sides. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Sources in the ruling Congress said the party had, in fact, been waiting for the apex court judgement to take a call on reviving 'Operation Akarsh'. "Many BRS MLAs are still in touch with the Congress. The party leadership kept 'Operation Akarsh' on hold due to the case pending in the Supreme Court. The party top guns will now decide on roping in more MLAs, even while taking the opinion of legal and constitutional experts for going in for an appeal to a larger bench or exploring other available alternatives," the source said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Retirees Can Potentially Minimize RMD Taxes SmartAsset Learn More Undo Meanwhile, Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud told TOI that 'Operation Akarsh' was never called off. "It has always been active. If the MLAs, MLCs, and other important leaders from other parties want to join the Congress because they are impressed with the welfare schemes of the Revanth Reddy-led govt, what is wrong in allowing them into the party? The SC directions have to be followed, and the assembly speaker will decide what to do about it," he said. Party insiders say the Congress is eyeing at least half a dozen more BRS MLAs from Greater Hyderabad alone, a move that could strengthen its position ahead of the GHMC elections. On their part, the defected BRS MLAs are depending upon the Congress leadership, especially chief minister A Revanth Reddy, for support. Ghanpur Station MLA Kadiyam Srihari, one of the defectors, said on Tuesday: "We will abide by the decision of the speaker. But the BRS has no moral right to talk about the anti-defection law. It was the BRS that started defections in Telangana. First, they merged the Telugu Desam Legislature Party into BRSLP in 2016, and later CLP in June 2019." Earlier, Patancheru legislator Gudem Mahipal Reddy, another turncoat MLA, said he is not scared of a bypoll and exuded confidence in winning again in case of a by-election. However, political observers said the task of merging the BRSLP with the CLP is more challenging compared to the mergers in the past. The BRS was on strong political ground then. The TDP had 15 MLAs, and 12 of them joined the BRS, and the Congress had 19, of which 12 joined the BRS.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress claims victory in Jubilee Hills bypoll: 10 aspirants eye party ticket; Mahesh Goud criticises BJP
HYDERABAD: Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Tuesday said surveys conducted indicated a clear victory for the grand old party in the by-election to the Jubilee Hills assembly constituency. He mentioned that 10 candidates with winning prospects are vying for the party ticket due to positive results from the survey. "Though Operation Akarsh has not been abandoned, why would we even think of taking candidates from other parties? Right now, there are 10 capable candidates from our party in the race for the by-poll ticket. Congress is ready for a by-election to any constituency in the state as the people of Telangana are happy with the numerous welfare schemes being implemented by the Congress govt," he told the media. Later, at the Samvidhan Bachao Committee meeting, Mahesh Goud accused BJP of trying to rewrite the history of India to suit their Hindutva agenda. "Anyone speaking about democracy is branded as anti-national," he You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong divided over offering key posts to BRS turncoats
Hyderabad: None of the 10 BRS turncoat MLAs were named in the five TPCC committees announced by the AICC on Thursday. However, GHMC Mayor Gadwala Vijayalakshmi and her father, K Keshava Rao — both of whom also defected from the BRS to the Congress — were named in the delimitation committee and veterans and seniors advisory committee, respectively. Some senior party leaders are ruling out the possibility of the turncoats being appointed to key party positions, such as working presidents. However, there is pressure within the party to offer one or two cabinet posts to the turncoats in order to retain them in the Congress fold. The 10 turncoat MLAs largely remained silent despite the BRS leadership moving the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Speaker to act on their disqualification petitions. They have stayed with the Congress despite ongoing uncertainty over by-elections in their constituencies. The 10 BRS MLAs who joined the Congress after the 2023 Assembly elections are — Kadiyam Srihari (Station Ghanpur), Danam Nagender (Khairatabad), Tellam Venkat Rao (Bhadrachalam), Pocharam Srinivas Reddy (Banswada), M Sanjay Kumar (Jagtial), Kale Yadaiah (Chevella), Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy (Gadwal), Prakash Goud (Rajendranagar), Arekapudi Gandhi (Serilingampalli), and Gudem Mahipal Reddy (Patancheru). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Of these, only Banswada MLA and former Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy has been appointed as the advisor to the state govt on agriculture. However, the ruling Congress house is divided over offering cabinet berths or working president posts to the defectors. A section of Congress seniors believes there is already an ongoing rift between Congress and turncoat camps in the constituencies, which the party leadership has failed to resolve so far. Another section, however, does not object to giving the turncoats important posts like vice-president. In fact, there is a talk within Gandhi Bhavan circles about reviving 'Operation Akarsh' to rope in more BRS MLAs and leaders into the Congress, especially following the recent 'feedback letter' by BRS MLC K Kavitha to her father and BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao. Some argue that unless the party actively courts these defectors, BRS leaders might instead look towards the BJP. A senior AICC leader said the party high command will take the final decision as names of some of the turncoat MLAs have been submitted to them for consideration in the cabinet and also for the party posts. For example, leaders like MLA Danam Nagender joined the BRS from the Congress, only to come back to the grand old party fold. Turncoats with prior links to the Congress may be considered by the AICC, the leader said.
