Shadow Congress power centres under scanner as Komatireddy disowns movie ticket hike orders

Telangana Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has said that movie ticket price hike orders were issued without his knowledge or approval, triggering a political storm and raising questions over accountability and decision-making within the Congress government

Hyderabad: A senior Congress Minister admitting that government orders from his own department were being issued without his knowledge, which is more of a constitutional red flag than a mere administrative lapse, has triggered a political storm in Telangana and raised troubling questions over who was really running the government. This clear indication of accountability, chain of command and ministerial responsibility breaking down in the Congress government comes after Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy revealed on Saturday that Government Orders on movie ticket price hikes were issued without his knowledge or consent.

The disclosure, which exposes the state of affairs in the State Cabinet, has come amid a swirl of political intrigue around the film industry and the corridors of power. Social media is abuzz with claims that a Congress leader close to the Chief Minister was behind a midnight government order that cleared a ticket price hike and a special premiere show, allegedly timed to avoid a court stay. At the same time, the same Minister who flagged the unauthorised orders was already being targeted with sleaze stories, including allegations of an affair, narratives that are widely believed to have been planted from within his own party.

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Speaking to the media here, Komatireddy pointed out that after the ‘Pushpa 2’ stampede incident, it was made clear to film producers and exhibitors not to approach the State government for benefit shows or ticket hikes. However, the recent government orders on movie ticket price hikes were issued without his knowledge, he revealed.

“In the recent past, ticket price hikes for three films were not approved by me. Also, for movies slated for release this week, no file was brought to my notice,” Venkat Reddy said, adding that after he had made things clear, no one was approaching him or filing applications.

Komatireddy’s comments assume significance in the wake of the State government approving ticket price hikes for the Megastar Chiranjeevi starrer ‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’, which is scheduled for release on January 12. The State government reportedly issued an order past midnight to avoid court stays and approved a premiere show to be held on Sunday at 8 pm with a ticket price of Rs.600. Similarly, single screen theatres were permitted to increase ticket fares by Rs.50 and multiplexes by Rs.100. These enhanced rates are applicable from January 12 to 18.

Even as social media is abuzz over who in the State government approved these hikes and why, the Minister recalled that a clear announcement was made in the Assembly that no ticket hikes or premiere shows would be allowed.

“Sticking to that announcement, I have not signed a single file,” Venkat Reddy said, adding that he had no clue who was permitting the ticket hikes and issuing the GOs.

The Minister also clarified that, barring issues relating to film workers and artistes, particularly their housing problems, he was not bothering about ticket hikes and permissions for premiere shows.

“I don’t want to focus on the film industry,” he added.