BRS leader Harish Rao alleges Congress government weakened Telangana's legal stand in water dispute

HYDERABAD: Former Minister and Deputy Floor Leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the Telangana Assembly, T. Harish Rao, has alleged that the Congress government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy deliberately weakened the state's legal case against Andhra Pradesh's Godavari–Banakacherla Project, thereby compromising Telangana's water interests.

Addressing a press conference in Sangareddy on Monday, Mr. Rao said that observations made by the Supreme Court in a case filed by Telangana against the project exposed the government's negligence and lack of sincerity in protecting the state's rights. He claimed that while Andhra Pradesh was aggressively pursuing the Banakacherla project, the Telangana government was indirectly facilitating it instead of resisting it.

According to Mr. Rao, the Supreme Court dismissed the state government's suit and made serious observations about the manner in which it was filed. "The Supreme Court itself observed that the suit was not properly drafted. Such a weak case could not have been filed without the knowledge and approval of the Chief Minister," he alleged. He questioned the role of the Advocate General and the government's legal team, asking why they failed to present a legally sustainable case despite having several months to prepare.

Mr. Rao accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of being more focused on attacking the BRS than protecting Telangana's interests. He recalled that the government's earlier writ petition was also dismissed by the Supreme Court, and now the suit had met the same fate.

The BRS leader stated that tenders for the Godavari–Nallamala Sagar (Banakacherla) project were finalised on 11 December 2025, but the Telangana government approached the court only on 16 December 2025, after the process had already advanced significantly. Even after seven months, the government had failed to file a strong legal challenge, he said.

Accusing the Congress government of extending indirect support to Andhra Pradesh in implementing the Banakacherla project, Mr. Rao said the BRS had repeatedly warned the government about the project, forcing it to issue backdated letters following sustained pressure from the opposition. He alleged that the government's actions reflected an understanding with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. "The Telangana government's approach was to create the impression that it was opposing the project while ensuring that it was not actually stopped," he said. He asked why Telangana constituted its committee on 23 December 2025, only days after Andhra Pradesh formed a similar committee on 15 December 2025.

The allegations come amid an ongoing water-sharing dispute between the two states. The Congress government in Telangana has not yet responded to Mr. Rao's claims.