Congress govt’s big ticket events, controversies galore

The Congress government in Telangana faces criticism for extravagant spending on global events. While aiming to attract investments and boost Hyderabad’s image, costs have sparked opposition backlash. Upcoming summits and celebrations intensify questions over fiscal prudence amid claims of near bankruptcy.

Hyderabad: Since coming to power, the Congress government in Telangana has hosted a series of high-profile events, pledging to attract investments and create jobs. However, despite the grand promises, these initiatives have often made headlines for the wrong reasons, raising questions about their impact and the mounting costs.

The first major event, Bharat Summit 2025, was held on April 25 and 26 in partnership with the Congress-backed Samruddha Bharat Foundation. The summit drew over 450 delegates from more than 100 countries, focusing on economic, social and climate justice. Yet, controversy soon followed. Opposition parties alleged that Rs 150 crore was spent on the summit, while the government countered, claiming the actual expenditure was Rs 29.45 crore.

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In May, the government turned heads by hosting the Miss World 2025 pageant, promising to boost tourism and trade. But the event quickly became embroiled in scandal when Miss England Milla Magee, alleged that she was asked to “socialise with middle-aged men.” The government dismissed the claims as “fabricated and baseless.”

Adding to the controversy, opposition leaders accused the government of splurging Rs 200 crore on the month-long event. The official figure, according to the Congress government, was Rs 31 crore, including Rs 21 crore from sponsorships.

Last December, the government marked its one-year term with Praja Palana celebrations, again drawing criticism for heavy spending. Now, as these controversies linger, the administration is preparing for two more grand events.

On December 8 and 9, the government is planning to host the ‘Telangana Rising 2047 – Global Summit’ at Bharat Future City. Invitations have already gone out to 2,600 guests, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union Ministers, and global business leaders. The goal is stated to attract investments and strengthen Hyderabad’s global brand.

Simultaneously, a nine-day Praja Palana Vijayotsavalu will kick off on December 1, to celebrate the two year rule of Congress. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is expected to release a detailed performance report during the festivities.

But the big question being asked now is while these events aim to showcase Telangana on the world stage, the huge expenditure points to a glaring contradiction.

On one hand, the Chief Minister repeatedly highlights the near bankruptcy of the Government, difficulties in securing loans, challenges in meeting the monthly capital expenditure, and paying retirement benefits while on the other hand, the government continues to organize mega events, adding significant strain to the state exchequer.