Are recent developments in the Telangana government making Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka more aggressive? The signals seem to say yes. It is being said that he is trying to turn the current political atmosphere to his advantage. Recently, the controversy involving Minister Konda Surekha created a major storm in the state. In particular, Konda Surekha’s daughter, Sushmitha, made serious allegations against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and several people considered close to him. Following these developments, Minister Konda Surekha met the party affairs in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan and presented her side of the issue in detail. Later, she also met Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.
Now, a dispute has erupted between Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao and the department’s Principal Secretary Rizvi — which too has stirred up a big controversy. Ignoring the minister’s orders, Rizvi reportedly sent certain files to the CMO unnecessarily. Minister Jupally suspects that all this happened with the support of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. However, officials argue that Rizvi only acted according to the CMO’s instructions to bring all such matters directly to their notice. After this uproar, Jupally Krishna Rao also met Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Thursday morning and discussed the latest developments, according to Congress sources.
Meanwhile, another senior minister from Nalgonda district reportedly complained directly to top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about threats made to a cement factory management. Reliable sources say Rahul has directed AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal to find out the full story behind this episode. Amid ongoing talk that there is already a gap between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Congress high command, these new developments are said to be pushing Revanth Reddy into further trouble, according to Congress leaders.
Taking all these developments into account, discussions within Congress circles suggest that Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has intensified his behind-the-scenes political activity. It is known that he too had earlier faced serious allegations related to finance department bills. Whatever the reasons may be, many Congress leaders believe that there is no proper coordination between Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and key ministers. Overall, it appears that not the opposition but the ruling party itself — especially the ministers’ affairs — is creating turbulence in Telangana politics, and the opposition BRS seems to be working to turn these issues to its own advantage.