Strangely, Telangana is witnessing an unusual camaraderie between the Congress and BJP, despite their fierce opposition at the national level. Despite the Revanth Reddy government’s suppression of opposition voices over the past 10 months, the BJP has remained largely silent.
Despite the Congress government’s failures on many fronts, the BJP, which is still critical of the BRS and KCR, has refrained from targeting the Revanth Reddy-led government. Doubts about this relationship were further fueled when BRS Party Working President KTR exposed corruption in the Amrut scheme tenders and demanded accountability.
BJP MLA Maheshwar Reddy, who was initially involved in the issue, soon withdrew. In Hyderabad, the demolition of homes under the HYDRAA and the Musi beautification project has displaced many, yet BJP leaders have remained silent in the face of public outcry. Surprisingly, except for BJP MP Eatela Rajender, many other BJP leaders initially praised the demolition drive.
Though Revanth Reddy introduced six guarantees, only the free bus service for women has been implemented so far, leaving many, including auto drivers who lost jobs, in crisis. In fact, nine auto drivers have committed suicide, with one even setting his vehicle on fire in front of Praja Bhavan. Yet, the BJP continues to act as though these are not pressing issues.
Farmers have been particularly affected, with 22 lakh still waiting for the promised Rs 2 lakh loan waiver, and more than 300 suicides have occurred within the first 10 months of Congress rule. Although the BRS has staged protests and roadblocks, the BJP has remained passive.
Further complicating matters, the BRS exposed a major Rs 1,100 crore rice tender scam. Despite initially claiming to have uncovered the issue, the BJP has since fallen silent. Adding to the controversy are the new central laws, which are opposed by many states allied with the INDIA coalition. However, the Revanth Reddy government is fully implementing these laws, while the BJP remains quiet.
In the aftermath of heavy rains in Khammam town, the Congress government failed to adequately respond to the rehabilitation needs of affected residents. Once again, BJP leaders failed to hold the government accountable, further fueling speculation that political “match-fixing” between Congress and BJP is at play.
Talk of an open alliance between the BJP and CM Revanth Reddy has intensified, with some accusing the Congress of fielding weak candidates in certain districts during parliamentary elections to ensure BJP victories. This is particularly evident in Karimnagar, where Bandi Sanjay’s win seemed assured.