Accusing Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of collusion, Telangana deputy chief minister and Congress senior leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said his party is fighting both its rivals equally in the parliament elections. Vikramarka holds all-important finance, planning and power portfolios in the Revanth Reddy government.
In an exclusive interview to The Wire before hopping on campaign trial by helicopter with party in-charge of Telangana Deepa Das Munshi on Wednesday, May 7, Vikramarka underlined that the Congress has become the common target of both BRS and the BJP. The two parties, he said, buried all their differences to defeat the Congress.
“They (BRS and BJP ) gave tickets in such a way that the BJP fielded weak candidates in constituencies where the BRS had strong candidates and vice-versa,” he alleged.
Vikramarka spoke on a range of challenges confronting the state as well as prospects for the Congress party in the Lok Sabha elections.
How many seats will the Congress win in the present elections?
Fourteen out of seventeen.
Both BRS and BJP see Congress as a bubble which will blow out without completing its full five-year term. What do you have to say about it?
We will be in power with a comfortable majority for two terms up to 2033. It is this confidence that has driven us to formulate a power policy to meet a peak demand of 29,000 mega watt (MW) a day. Presently, there is no power policy as such in the state.
Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty
Do you see the BJP as a strong force to reckon with in the next Assembly elections?
There is no political space for the BJP in Telangana, as its people are secular, socialist and progressive. I felt the pulse of people during my 1,400 km long padayatra across the state last year. People here have lived in communal harmony for centuries.
An example of the Hindu-Muslim bond was the talambralu (rice soaked in turmeric and poured over the heads of bride and bridegroom by each other during a wedding) sent by the rulers of Qutb shahi dynasty of the princely state of Hyderabad to Lord Ram at his celestial wedding on Ramnavami at the famous temple in Bhadrachalam.
Also, Telangana is a state with 92% of its population belonging to SCs, STs, other backward classes and minorities. They know that their livelihood will be at stake if a party of traders and corporates ruled the state.
Why do you think the BRS will lose the polls badly?
Telangana is a resourceful state. Unfortunately, the previous BRS government did not put the resources to proper use and caused colossal loss to the exchequer. It made a huge investment in irrigation but the wealth generated was abysmal. The people defeated BRS, as they got a hang of its poor decisions.
The government spent Rs 84,000 crore on Kaleswaram lift irrigation project with the prospect of the expenditure touching Rs 1.44 lakh crore by the time it was completed. But, the yield was too low for any comparison.
The Congress government commenced its term in December with a negative budget balance of Rs 3,000 crore. How do you propose to shore up resources and yet meet debt servicing?
We are prioritising expenditure and generating alternate resources without levying additional taxes. We cut down on wasteful expenditure and cleared Rs 30,000 crore of outstanding with a clear vision and teamwork.
How much are the total outstanding liabilities of the government and when do you hope to clear it in total?
It is Rs seven lakh crore. The repayments will spill over into the next government as the previous regime had drawn up its repayment schedule to start from the tenth year which coincides with this financial year.
Are you implying that the BRS expected adverse political conditions in the state after 10 years of rule and, therefore, went for reckless borrowings to put the successor regime in a tight spot?
Of course, the BRS thrust the burden of bulk repayment on us after ruling for ten years without having to meet the principal component of loans. The BRS government went for open market borrowings with interest rates as high as 11.5% which is unimaginable for us in the present circumstances.
What is the Congress government doing to generate resources to fund its programmes?
We are trying for funds with international agencies at rates less than 4% to 5%. We are in touch with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), one of the biggest global funding agencies supported by the Japanese government.
The BRS has targeted Congress for lacking the vision to maintain power supply like the previous government. This has led to the recent agricultural crisis with the drying of crops due to power shortages.
We met a peak power demand of 15,526 mega watt (MW) on a day this year which was the highest ever. We are buying power both on a short and long-term basis from the national status power exchange to manage requirements not only on an hourly basis but sometimes for ten to fifteen minutes to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his predecessor K. Chandrasekhar Rao have been involved in a no-holds-barred criticism at a personal level. Does Congress support it?
It was Rao who started it by targeting us in foul and abusive language. So, we also decided to give back
What is the secret of your consecutive four victories in Assembly elections since 2009?
People of the Madhira constituency in Khammam district where I won all my elections see me as a leader who is a member of their family. I too do not consider myself a leader who is above people.
Did the BRS chief and former chief minister Chandrasekhar Rao try to defeat you?
Rao did not give even a rupee to my constituency, let alone the MLA funds legitimately due to me.
Why didn’t you protest?
I never took up the discrimination in funding either with the government or ministers because I had people’s support. But, the Congress government will not do the same to Opposition MLAs. The government will make them equal partners in development.
You tried a ticket for your wife to contest the Parliament elections but did not succeed.
Yes, I tried. The party took a decision after taking into consideration my request
You also missed the race for chief ministership though your 1,400 km padayatra contributed in a good measure to the party’s success in Assembly elections.
At least, I’m happy that the yatra helped to enlighten people about the misdeeds of BRS.
The Congress would have scored a point over BRS if you were made chief minister because the latter party promised to give the post to a Dalit during the struggle for the statehood of Telangana.
It was not new for Congress to make Dalit chief minister because there were several examples in the country in the past. When the time comes, it will do here also.
The portfolios of finance, planning and power have been given to you. Are they your choice or that of the party?
It was the party’s decision.
