Telangana Deputy CM Criticizes BRS Over State Debt and Financial Management
In a recent press conference, Telangana's Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka sharply criticized the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for leaving the state with a staggering debt of ₹8.21 lakh crore. He dismissed claims made by BRS leaders regarding financial management and highlighted the current government's debt restructuring efforts, which aim to significantly reduce repayment obligations. Bhatti's statements raise questions about the previous administration's fiscal policies and the current government's strategies to manage the state's finances effectively. This ongoing political discourse underscores the complexities of governance and financial accountability in Telangana.
| Jul 3, 2026, 18:09 IST
Deputy CM's Strong Critique of BRS
On Friday, Bhatti Vikramarka, the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister of Telangana, launched a fierce attack on the opposition party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). He accused K. Chandrashekar Rao's previous administration of leaving the state with a staggering debt of ₹8.21 lakh crore. Additionally, he announced a vigilance investigation into allegations of 40 lakh tons of coal missing from Singareni Collieries Company Limited. During a press conference at the Telangana Secretariat, alongside ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluri Lakshman Kumar, Bhatti dismissed claims made by senior BRS leaders T. Harish Rao and K.T. Rama Rao regarding the state's financial management. He accused the opposition of engaging in 'Goebbels-style propaganda,' asserting that the Congress government inherited a significant financial burden after a decade of BRS rule. He claimed that while the current government has borrowed ₹1.77 lakh crore since taking office, it has also repaid a total of ₹2,08,681 crore, which includes both principal and interest from loans taken during the previous administration.
Debt Analysis and Fiscal Responsibility
According to Bhatti, when factoring in loans taken under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) framework, state-guaranteed corporation loans, employee dues, and liabilities of power distribution companies, the total debt rises to ₹8,21,651 crore. He questioned Harish Rao's assertion that the BRS government had only borrowed ₹3 lakh crore, asking why the state faces such a substantial repayment burden if that claim were accurate. The Deputy CM noted that the Congress government initially refrained from disclosing the state's financial status to maintain Telangana's credibility among investors and financial institutions. However, he mentioned that the government decided to release the figures following increased criticism from the opposition.
Debt Restructuring Efforts
Bhatti also highlighted the state government's debt restructuring initiatives, claiming that these efforts have reduced the repayment obligations from ₹34,058 crore to ₹11,915 crore between 2025-26 and 2031-32. He stated that this move is expected to save the state approximately ₹22,142 crore. Furthermore, he accused the BRS government of borrowing for major projects like the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme and Mission Bhagiratha through government corporations rather than directly as state debt, in an attempt to conceal liabilities.