B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and an MLC, has openly mocked the Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s (BRS) recently introduced ‘Dues Card’ campaign. He stated that the campaign has turned into a public joke, failing to resonate with the people of Telangana.
During a press conference in Hyderabad, Goud asserted that Telangana, which once boasted a surplus budget, was driven into significant debt under the BRS government and former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. He argued that a party responsible for such extensive borrowing has no moral standing to discuss ‘debts and dues’.
Challenging the BRS narrative, Goud highlighted various Congress initiatives such as farm loan waivers, Rythu Bharosa for farmers, paddy bonuses, subsidized LPG cylinders, 200 units of free electricity, expanded Aarogyasri health coverage, ration cards, and Indiramma houses. He questioned whether these beneficial schemes could be considered ‘dues,’ emphasizing that the Congress government is actively working to alleviate the substantial financial burdens inherited from the previous BRS administration.
He further criticized the BRS, accusing them of a decade of mismanagement characterized by alleged scams in major projects, including the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project and the Formula-E race. Additionally, Goud pointed out the BRS’s failure to deliver on key electoral promises, such as the Dalit Bandhu scheme and providing one government job per household.
Projecting strong confidence, the TPCC chief declared that the Congress party is poised to achieve an overwhelming victory in the forthcoming rural local body elections, aiming for over 80% of the seats. He also expressed certainty that the party would win the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election.
Goud also emphasized the transparency and historical significance of the caste survey conducted under the leadership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, noting that no other Indian state has undertaken such a comprehensive initiative. He affirmed the government’s commitment to securing favorable court rulings on Backward Classes (BC) reservations, stating that by prioritizing BC rights, the Congress has reaffirmed its commitment to fulfilling its promises.
Furthermore, Goud accused both the BRS and BJP of colluding to run a malicious campaign against the current Revanth Reddy-led government. He strongly criticized the BJP-led central government, alleging that it has been ‘looting Telangana’ through its GST and fertilizer policies, and claiming that for eight years, public funds were unfairly siphoned off in the name of GST.
He concluded by challenging BJP leaders Etela Rajender, Bandi Sanjay, and Arvind Dharmapuri to directly question Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Backward Classes (BC) reservations. Goud asserted that instead of safeguarding BC rights, the BJP appears to be attempting to undermine them.