In the heart of Telangana's political arena, a fierce battle for credit is unfolding between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), spotlighting governance achievements amid accusations of legacy hijacking. On Friday, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated two key irrigation projects in the erstwhile Adilabad district—the Chanaka-Korata Barrage and the Sadarmat Barrage—marking a milestone for farmers in drought-prone regions. These barrages, with a combined storage capacity of over 2.5 TMCft, promise to irrigate approximately 69,000 acres across Adilabad, Nirmal, and Jagtial districts, fulfilling long-pending demands from local agriculturists.

However, the event quickly turned contentious. BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) took to social media earlier in the day, crediting former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao for initiating and completing 90-95% of the work on both projects during the BRS's decade-long rule from 2014-2023. KTR highlighted the Chanaka-Korata's trial run in September 2023 and an inter-state agreement with Maharashtra in 2016, portraying the inaugurations as mere ribbon-cutting by the current regime. He lauded KCR's era for transforming Telangana into a "grain bowl" through irrigation initiatives.

Revanth, addressing a public meeting in Nirmal post-inauguration, sidestepped KTR's claims but unleashed a barrage of criticism against KCR and BRS. He urged the veteran leader to offer constructive inputs instead of unfounded allegations, like accusing the government of running a "real estate business." Revanth alleged BRS left the state saddled with ₹8 lakh crore in debt while amassing personal wealth, painting a picture of fiscal mismanagement.

He accused former rulers of intolerance toward ongoing public good and stressed on his focus on utilizing power for people's benefit, avoiding discussions on "fallen" opponents.

This skirmish echoes a broader pattern, particularly in job recruitments. Revanth has repeatedly claimed his government issued 60,000 appointment letters in its first year. BRS countered that notifications and exams occurred under their watch, with Congress merely distributing letters. Data shows BRS filled 1.64 lakh posts over nine years, while Congress has notified only 10,000 vacancies so far, amid delays and paper leaks from the BRS era.

Analytically, this credit war underscores Telangana's polarized politics post-2023 elections, where Congress ousted BRS by promising jobs and welfare. For Congress, showcasing quick wins bolsters its narrative of efficient governance amid economic strains.

Revanth promises Palamuru-Level Funds for Adilabad

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his deep affection for the erstwhile Adilabad district, describing it as a historic land of struggles for "Jal, Jangal, Zameen" (water, forest, land). Accompanied by Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, former Minister Indrakaran Reddy, MLAs, MLCs, and leaders, CM inaugurated the Chanaka-Korata pump house in Hathighat, releasing water to the Lower Penganga main canal. He also launched the Sadarmat barrage in Ponkal village.

Speaking at the "Praja Palana - Pragati Bata" public meeting in Nirmal, he lamented the lack of adequate development in the region and pledged funds on par with Palamuru district to accelerate progress.

Emphasizing irrigation as key to growth, CM Reddy highlighted the need to complete pending projects. He noted that the people's government is prioritizing these efforts. On education, he addressed delays in establishing a sanctioned university due to regional disputes and proposed setting it up at Basar IIIT. He instructed District Incharge Minister Jupally Krishna Rao to make arrangements and directed government advisor Sudarshan Reddy to hold review meetings with public representatives and officials in early February. He urged locals to submit a comprehensive report on required development and funds for swift allocation.

For water security, Reddy stressed the urgency of the Tummidihatti project to irrigate farmlands, instructing Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy to submit a full report before budget sessions. "Let's build the project and turn Adilabad into a lush green haven by conserving every drop," he said.

Visioning industrial transformation, the CM highlighted the airport in Adilabad—where even basic buses are scarce—to enable air connectivity, alongside a massive industrial park on 10,000 acres. He reiterated a non-partisan approach to development: "Politics during elections; progress afterward. No personal agendas—only people's welfare." He criticized past rulers for burdensome debts and vowed to meet the Prime Minister repeatedly for central funds, calling on BJP representatives for full cooperation.

Urging voters in upcoming municipal elections to choose development-oriented leaders, he expressed confidence in Congress's continued victories.

In a symbolic gesture, projects were renamed: Chanaka-Korata after C. Ramachandra Reddy and Sadarmat barrage after Narsareddy, with instructions to officials.