Telangana government's ₹200 crore Miss World pageant sparks Congress vs BRS war

Senior BRS leader KTR questioned the Congress government for allocating a staggering amount for the Formula-E race and the Miss World Pageant.

Published on: Mar 19, 2025, 15:19:31 IST

By HT News Desk

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Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Telangana's opposition party launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's government questioning the state's financial priorities after the revelation that the state is facing a ₹71,000 crore revenue shortfall.

BRS leader KTR questioned Telangana CM Revanth Reddy over the state's ₹71,000 crore revenue shortfall. (PTI)

Senior BRS leader KT Rama Rao questioned the Congress government for allocating a staggering amount for the Formula-E race event and the organisation of the Miss World Pageant show despite the financial woes.

According to KTR, the Congress government led by Revanth Reddy allocated ₹200 crore for hosting the 72nd Miss World pageant, while another ₹46 crore was spent on the Formula-E race event.

All this at a time with a deficit of ₹71,000 crore, especially when the state's government is struggling to pay salaries and cover basic expenses, leaving little room for development projects.

In a recent social media post, KTR said, "So Congress Government wants us to believe that all is well in Telangana. Apparently according to them - Investments are coming in thick & fast - the Agricultural Sector is growing - Welfare is at its highest - CM is working 18 hours a day."

Also Read | Telangana CM reveals OBC population data, promises 42% quota in jobs, education

KTR also asked Rahul Gandhi to explain the Congress government's idea of engaging in "perverse logic" by spending taxpayer money on a beauty contest.

These concerns sparked a dramatic protest during the state assembly session on Tuesday with several BRS lawmakers carrying handfuls of dried crops to highlight their claims of “Congress-made drought,” an NDTV report stated.

The opposition also demanded that the money earmarked for the beauty contest should be redirected to support farmers, specifically demanding instead ₹25,000 per acre for those suffering for

Also Read | Borrowing from RBI per month, says T’gana CM amid cash crunch

The BRS has long been critical of the Congress government's financial handling, accusing it of squandering state funds on promises made during the 2023 election campaign.

Revanth Reddy responds

Meanwhile, in a swift rebuttal, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy turned the blame towards his predecessor, K Chandrasekhar Rao, accusing him of "bankrupting Telangana."

Reddy accused the BRS of having left the incoming Congress government with a massive public debt that requires monthly interest payments of ₹1.53 lakh crore.

Also Read | Hyderabad real estate market: Property registrations dip by 16% annually to 5900 units

"If such a big amount had been saved, this government would have built houses for all... farm loans could have been waived for another 70 lakh people," he was quoted by news agency ANI.

Telangana Budget 2025-26

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Wednesday tabled the 2025-26 state budget in the ongoing assembly session, saying that the state government was focusing on advancement in technology, transport, infrastructure, and environment conservation.

The budget proposes a total expenditure of ₹3,04,965 crore, with revenue expenditure of ₹2,26,982 crore and capital expenditure of ₹36,504 crore.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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