K Kavitha, a prominent leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and daughter of former CM K Chandrashekar Rao, was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. This development comes after the agency, along with the Income Tax department, conducted searches at her Hyderabad residence.

K Kavitha Arrested

The arrest of K Kavitha, who serves as a member of the legislative council (MLC) from Nizamabad, has stirred controversy and political upheaval. The ED’s allegations suggest her involvement in a ‘South Group’ accused of paying kickbacks to Aam Aadmi Party leaders in exchange for undue benefits under the now-defunct Delhi excise policy.

Despite the ED’s claims, Kavitha vehemently denies any wrongdoing, labeling the notices against her as “Modi notices.” Her arrest has sparked tensions, with her brother K T Rama Rao and cousin T Harish Rao engaging in a heated exchange with ED officers during the search proceedings.

This recent development adds to the political turbulence surrounding Kavitha, especially following her party’s loss to the Congress in the November 2023 Assembly elections. Once a prominent figure in the Telangana separate state movement, Kavitha’s political career faced setbacks, notably her defeat in the 2019 elections to BJP’s Dharmapuri Aravind.

Despite challenges, Kavitha remains a significant figure in Telangana politics. Her journey, from winning the Nizamabad Parliamentary constituency with a substantial margin to facing electoral setbacks, reflects the dynamic nature of politics in the region. As she navigates through these legal and political challenges, Kavitha’s actions and decisions continue to shape the political landscape of Telangana.

In conclusion, K Kavitha’s arrest by the ED marks a critical juncture in her political journey, with implications reaching far beyond the confines of Telangana. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.

Anumala Revanth Reddy was inaugurated as the second Chief Minister of Telangana in a public ceremony held at LB Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday. This historic event marked the first time a Congress leader assumed the role of Chief Minister. In front of a vast audience, including Congress activists, Reddy took the oath of office in the presence of distinguished leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, and others.

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, emphasizing the solemnity of the occasion. The LB Stadium and surrounding roads were filled with enthusiastic Congress supporters and followers of Reddy, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

In addition to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, 11 members of his cabinet also took the oath of office, including Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu as Deputy Chief Minister. The majority of ministers took their oaths in the name of God, while Anasuya Seethakka took hers in the name of “Pavitra Hrudayam” (sacred heart). The Ministers expressed gratitude to Sonia Gandhi, with touching moments such as hugs and gestures of respect.

The Chief Minister wasted no time in addressing key issues, signing files related to the new Abhaya Hastham Act, the implementation of Congress’s six guarantees outlined in the manifesto, and providing employment to Rajani, a dwarf woman. In his brief speech, Revanth Reddy announced the removal of barricades at Pragathi Bhavan, the former Chief Minister’s official residence. He invited the public to a Praja Darbar on Friday at 10:30 AM at Pragathi Bhavan, which will be renamed after Jyotirao Phule.

Speaker Prasad Kumar, known as Gaddam Prasad, is set to be sworn in as the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly. Notably, traffic restrictions near Pragathi Bhavan have been lifted, in line with Revanth Reddy’s commitment to use the official residence for public purposes. For the time being, the Chief Minister will operate from his residence in Jubilee Hills.

Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Congress leader, made a visit to the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleswaram project in Telangana on Thursday. The Kaleswaram project is recognized as the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project. During his inspection, Gandhi observed the presence of cracks in the barrage’s pillars.

Expressing his concerns about the “damage,” Gandhi asserted that these cracks had emerged due to subpar construction practices. He took to “X” (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts, stating, “The Kaleshwaram Project is nothing but the KCR Family ATM. I visited the Medigadda barrage, which is a component of the corruption-tainted Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme in Telangana.”

Gandhi emphasized, “Multiple pillars have developed cracks due to substandard construction, and there are reports suggesting that these pillars are sinking.” He further accused Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his family of exploiting the Kaleshwaram project as their “personal ATM” to the detriment of the people of Telangana.

Accompanying Gandhi on this visit were A. Revanth Reddy, the state Congress president, and other associates.

Gandhi had previously raised concerns about corruption in the Kaleswaram project during his election campaigns in Telangana. He had even presented a symbolic ‘Kaleswaram ATM’ created by his party to illustrate his point to the public.

Notably, a team of officials from the dam safety authority recently conducted an inspection of the Medigadda barrage in response to the reported “damage.”

The primary goal of the Kaleswaram project, inaugurated in 2019, is to divert 195 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from the Godavari River to the underdeveloped areas of Telangana. The project aims to channel this water to the Sripada Rao Yellampally project and create an additional ayacut (cultivated area) spanning approximately 18.25 lakh acres in Adilabad, Karimnagar, and other districts. Additionally, it is intended to provide 40 TMC of drinking water to various towns and cities in the state.

The overall cost of the project, including the construction of three barrages at Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla, is estimated to be around Rs 80,000 crore.