Telangana’s opposition party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has strongly attacked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for his government’s fiscal choices. The party is asking how the Congress-led government can afford to spend Rs 200 crore on organizing the 72nd Miss World pageant when it is struggling with a whopping revenue deficit of Rs 71,000 crore.

The war broke out amid the state’s budget reading in the Assembly on Tuesday. BRS legislators walked into the Well, holding desiccated crops, to drive home what they described as a “Congress-made drought.” They wanted the government to pay Rs 25,000 an acre as compensation to hit hard farmers rather than spend a hefty amount on a beauty contest.

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KTR Blasts Congress Over Financial Management

BRS leader KT Rama Rao (KTR) has vehemently criticized the Telangana government’s spending priorities. He branded Congress as hypocritical, referring to its move to prosecute him for supposed irregularities in the Rs 46 crore Formula-E race while sanctioning a much more costly Miss World event.

“Spending Rs 46 crore for a Formula-E race in Hyderabad was wrong and will attract cases… but spending Rs 200 crore of public money to conduct Miss World, a beauty contest is right! What is this perverse logic? Can you please explain, Rahul Gandhi?” KTR tweeted on X (formerly Twitter) last week.

KTR also questioned Congress’ economic growth claims in the state. “The Congress government wants us to believe all is well in Telangana… If that is true, why did the Chief Minister suddenly confess yesterday that there is negative growth… and a deficit of Rs 71,000 crore? Is Telangana rising or falling?” he questioned.

BRS Slams Congress’ “Double Standards”

Though KTR was loud in his denunciation, the BRS too has come out in a statement through spokesperson Krishank. The party has indicted the Congress for “double standards and hypocrisy,” especially in the context of corruption charges against KTR over the Formula-E event.

BRS leaders have raised alarms regarding the management of the state’s economy during CM Revanth Reddy’s tenure. The party has charged the ruling government with misusing public funds and not keeping its pre-poll promises made before the 2023 elections.

Congress Defends Decision, Blames BRS for Financial Crisis

In reaction, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has come back at the opposition, blaming the former BRS government for financial mismanagement. He alleged that his government had taken over a record public debt that warrants monthly interest payments of Rs 1.53 lakh crore.

“If such a big amount had been saved, this government would have built houses for all… farm loans could have been waived for another 70 lakh people,” he told news agency ANI.

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, also holding the post of Finance Minister, justified the fiscal policies of the Congress government. He asserted the government is working to pay financial arrears and has settled Rs 10,000 crore of arrears already.

India Welcomes Miss World for Second Successive Year

Despite the controversy, India will again host the Miss World pageant for the second year running. The 2024 edition was held in Mumbai, where Czechia’s Krystyna Pyszkova was crowned.

With increasing political unease over fiscal priorities, the Telangana government’s decision to host Miss World is a contentious issue that continues to pose questions. The BRS remains to question the Congress-led government on financial accountability, seeking clarity on why resources are being funneled to events instead of necessary public welfare programs.