Hans News Service Hyderabad

GovernmentWhip Vemula Veeresham on Tuesday alleged that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Bharatiya Janata Party were moving towards an alliance ahead of the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections. Addressing the media at the CLP Media Centre, Veeresham claimed the BRS had indirectly helped the BJP win eight Lok Sabha seats in the recent parliamentary elections and was now preparing to join hands with the saffron party for the GHMC polls. He challenged BRS Working President KTR to publicly clarify whether there was an understanding between the parties, whilst firmly denying any allegations of a secret pact involving Congress.

Veeresham alleged that Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and KTR were in regular contact, accusing both parties of working against local interests and shielding each other politically while creating hurdles for development initiatives. Referring to the Hyderabad Metro Rail project, Veeresham said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had taken decisive steps to bring the Metro, valued at around Rs 30,000 crore, under government control.

He stated that the state government successfully secured a loan of Rs 13,000 crore at a low interest rate to facilitate the takeover and ensure long-term viability.

The Congress leader alleged that the Centre had deliberately obstructed the loan process due to the positive response the state government was receiving for the Metro initiative. He questioned why KTR was not holding the Central Government or Kishan Reddy accountable for delays in the second phase of the Metro expansion. Describing Hyderabad Metro as the city's lifeline, Veeresham said the state government remains committed to expanding the network for public convenience, urging people to reject anti-development politics.