“I Will Remain Telangana CM Till May 2034,” Says Revanth
Revanth Reddy said the case of Special Intelligence Bureau equipment going missing had evolved into a phone-tapping investigation.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday expressed confidence that he will continue to be the Chief Minister of Telangana till May 2034 as he faces no political challenge in the state.
In an informal chat with media persons at his official residence in Delhi, Revanth Reddy said the next Assembly elections would be held in May 2029, instead of December 2028, in view of the proposed ‘One Nation-One Election’ system aligned with the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. This shift, he said, would extend his first term to five-and-a-half years and that he was sure to win the polls and continue as Chief Minister for five more years till 2034.
Stating that there was no competition for the Chief Minister’s post either in state politics or within the Congress, he remarked, “Nene Raju, Nene Mantri". He said there were no immediate plans for his Cabinet expansion.
On criticism over personal remarks, he said, "I do not criticise anyone personally. I only respond to those who speak about me."
Referring to Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, he said, "If Kishan Reddy feels hurt when I called him Kalvakuntla Kishan Rao, he changed my religion and even my name calling Revanthuddin — would I not feel hurt? I only replied to what they said."
On the Kaleshwaram project, the Chief Minister said the state government had written to the CBI director and the Union home ministry seeking an inquiry. " So far, they have not taken any decision," he said, adding, "If water is filled in Kaleshwaram dams, there is a risk of collapse."
He said a comprehensive study of the project was being undertaken in line with the guidelines of the National Dam Safety Authority.
Revanth Reddy said the case of Special Intelligence Bureau equipment going missing had evolved into a phone-tapping investigation. "I believe the phone-tapping investigation has reached its climax, " he said, adding that further questioning was based on statements made by former SIB official T. Prabhakar Rao.
Revanth Reddy maintained that the government was not engaging in illegal surveillance. "I am not tapping phones, and there is no need to do so. I will not do anything wrong," he said.
On possible action against former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, Revanth Reddy said, "If the need arises to send BRS chief Chandrashekar Rao to jail, we will follow due procedure and norms and send him to jail. There is no witch-hunting against him. We will proceed as per legal procedures."
Responding to allegations on the Singareni Collieries issue, Revanth Reddy said tender guidelines, including the mandatory site visit condition, had been in force since 2018. "We have not altered even a full stop or comma," he said, adding that all relevant documents would be tabled in the upcoming Assembly session.
He said the liabilities were inherited from the previous BRS government and that no additional financial burden had been imposed on Singareni.
On river water disputes, he said there was no need for a new tribunal on Godavari water sharing and sought uniform norms for projects in both states. He proposed an agreement for utilisation of 300 tmc ft each from flood waters.
