The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project remains at the epicentre of Telangana’s political landscape, particularly since the advent of the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government. Allegations of widespread corruption and irregularities against the previous administration, headed by former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), have dominated public discourse. In response to these grave accusations, a high-level inquiry into the project’s execution was swiftly ordered, setting the stage for a high-stakes investigation.
In a significant development, the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission, tasked with probing the alleged lapses in the Kaleshwaram project, has recently issued summons to key political figures. Notices have been dispatched to KCR, former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao, and BJP MP Etala Rajender, who served as the Finance Minister during the BRS regime. The Commission has specifically directed KCR to appear before it on June 5, with Harish Rao slated for June 6, and Etala Rajender on June 9, signaling an intensive phase of the probe.
The issuance of these notices has ignited a fresh political firestorm across the state. Leaders of the BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi), often referred to as the ‘pink party’, have largely remained silent on their direct response to the summons. However, top BRS functionaries, including working president K.T. Rama Rao, have vehemently criticized the move, dismissing it as a “political conspiracy” orchestrated by the Congress government to divert public attention from its unfulfilled electoral promises and perceived governance failures.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Etala Rajender, despite being named in the inquiry, has clarified that he has not yet officially received any notice. He has, however, publicly affirmed his unwavering commitment to cooperate fully with the commission once the summons reaches him. The unfolding inquiry not only promises to shed light on the controversial project but also underscores the persistent political vendetta between the ruling and opposition parties in Telangana. All eyes are now on the imminent hearings and the potential repercussions for the state’s political future.