The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has escalated its offensive against the ruling Congress government, accusing it of orchestrating a staggering ₹5 lakh crore scam in the state’s power sector.
In a fiery press conference on Friday, BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) branded Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s administration as ‘the most corrupt in Telangana’s history,’ demanding a high-level judicial probe and the immediate resignation of Power Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.
The allegations center on what BRS calls ‘reckless’ decisions that have ballooned the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited’s (TSSPDCL) debt from ₹46,000 crore when Congress took office in December 2023 to over ₹1.8 lakh crore today. KTR claimed the government has inked ‘secretive, overpriced’ power purchase agreements (PPAs) with private solar and wind developers, locking the state into buying electricity at rates 40-50% above market prices for the next 25 years. ‘This is not governance; it’s daylight robbery,’ he said, alleging kickbacks worth thousands of crores to party leaders and bureaucrats.
BRS accusations
- Inflated tariffs: BRS released documents purportedly showing solar power deals at ₹3.50-₹4.20 per unit, compared to the national average of ₹2.50-₹2.80. Wind energy contracts allegedly exceed ₹5 per unit.
- Unnecessary imports: Despite surplus generation from state plants like Yadadri and Bhadradri, the government is buying 10,000 MW from private players, including out-of-state firms, at premium rates.
- Hidden guarantees backfire: KTR linked the alleged scam to Congress’s six poll promises, including free electricity up to 200 units, which he said has spiked consumption by 25% without matching supply planning, forcing emergency purchases during peak summer demand.
BRS leaders, including former minister Harish Rao, cited internal TSSPDCL memos and PPA drafts, accusing the government of bypassing the Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (TGERC) for ‘backdoor approvals.’ They estimated the total financial hemorrhage at ₹5.21 lakh crore over the contract period, enough to fund universal basic income for every Telugu family for a decade. ‘Revanth Reddy promised a scam-free Telangana; instead, he’s turned it into a personal ATM,’ Harish Rao quipped.
The Congress camp dismissed the accusations as ‘desperate electioneering’ ahead of local body polls. Government spokesperson Dasoju Sravan Kumar countered that BRS had left a ₹1.2 lakh crore power debt legacy, which his party is tackling through green energy diversification. ‘We’re securing 15,000 MW of renewable power at competitive rates to ensure 24/7 supply – BRS’s favorite cry during their rule,’ he retorted, pointing to a recent TGERC nod for solar projects as evidence of transparency.
BRS has also filed complaints with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and is planning statewide protests, starting December 5.
On the other hand, household power bills are set to rise by 20-30% from January 2026 to offset subsidies.