Harish Rao flays Congress govt for neglecting rural governance

BRS MLA T Harish Rao launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led Telangana government, accusing it of dismantling the Panchayat Raj system and neglecting rural development. He also criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for being disconnected from ground realities.

Hyderabad: Former Minister and BRS senior MLA T Harish Rao on Friday accused the Congress government of systematically eroding rural governance in Telangana, leaving villages voiceless, directionless and forgotten.

He said the vibrant village administration system, which flourished under former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, was now in decline.

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Harish Rao cited Congress MLAs Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy and Yennam Srinivas Reddy, who sought constituency development fund as proof of growing discontent.

“In just 22 months, rural Telangana has slipped into neglect. There are no Sarpanches, no MPTCs, no local body elections. Villages have no voice, no funds, no direction,” he remarked. He said the three-tier Panchayat Raj system that formed the backbone of grassroots governance has been marginalised.

The BRS MLA said tractors for public service were lying idle without fuel, streetlights remained dark for days, and roads and drains were left unattended. He stated that even Bathukamma festival which was the cultural soul of Telangana was being neglected with no arrangements or support from the government.

“Elected MLAs themselves are being sidelined, stripped of funds and development programmes. Their ability to serve local needs has been severely curtailed,” he charged.

Targeting Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Harish Rao said the former was seen more in Delhi than in Telangana, far from the pain of the people. He termed the situation not mere administrative neglect but a deliberate erosion of rural governance.