Telangana’s Finance Minister T. Harish Rao on Monday alleged that the Centre is creating hurdles in the development of the state.

Presenting the State Budget for 2023-24 in the Assembly, he said while Telangana has been achieving significant development through its own efforts, the Central government has been creating hurdles after hurdles.

He slammed the union government for reducing the state’s borrowing limit and said that in order to complete the irrigation projects within the shortest time, Telangana government resorted to off-budget borrowings well within the limits of FRBM Act.

“During the current year, based on our economic performance and borrowing limits, an amount of Rs 53,970 crore has been included in the Budget as borrowings. But the Central government unilaterally imposed a cut of Rs 15,033 crore and reduced our borrowing limits to Rs 38,937 crore. This decision of the Centre is totally unjustified and uncalled for. This kind of cuts are against the spirit of federalism and have eroded the rights of the States,” he said.

Harish Rao alleged that the Centre has broken the tradition of implementing in toto the recommendations of the Finance Commission.

The 15th Finance Commission recommended a special grant of Rs.723 crore to Telangana and an amount of Rs 171 crore towards nutrition to ensure that the tax devolution should not be less than the amount of devolution received by the State in 2019-20. By not accepting these recommendations, the Central government denied Telangana of its due share in the Finance Commission grants.

He said in the history Aof the country, no government has ignored the recommendations of the Finance Commission in such a blatant manner.

He termed as totally undemocratic, the Centre’s indifference in the implementation of many provisions in the Parliament enacted Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act.

Harish Rao pointed out that A.P. Reorganization Act mandates the Central government to provide tax concessions to the successor States in order to ensure industrialization and economic growth in the two States. By providing only nominal concessions, the Central government has ignored the interests of both the States.

“Under section 94(2) of the A.P.Reorganization Act, the Central government shall provide funds for the development of backward areas. Though the Centre is supposed to release a grant of Rs 450 crore per annum, grants for three years amounting to Rs 1,350 crore have not been released.”

The state Finance Minister told the Assembly that NITI Aayog has recommended that a grant of Rs 19,205 crore for Mission Bhagiratha and Rs 5,000 crore for Mission Kakatiya may be released by the Centre to Telangana.

But the Central government has not released even one paise so far, he claimed.

“The 13th Schedule of the A.P.Reorganization Act has mandated the Centre to take necessary steps and to establish institutions for the sustained development of the State in the next 10 years. The Centre by its negligent attitude has not resolved many issues so far.

“Establishment of a Rail Coach Factory at Kazipet, Bayyaram Steel Plant and Girijan University have been specifically mentioned in the Reorganization Act. These mandates have not been fulfilled even after eight and a half years. In addition, the ITIR sanctioned to Telangana has been shelved.

“Another glaring instance of discrimination to Telangana is the order issued by the Union Power Ministry in August 2022. In this order, Telangana government has been directed to pay pending dues of TS DISCOMs amounting to Rs 3,441.78 crore as principal and Rs 3,315.14 crore as late payment surcharge, totaling to Rs 6,756.92 crore to A.P.Genco within 30 days. Though Telangana has been pleading with the Central government regarding dues amounting to Rs.17,828 crore payable by Andhra Pradesh to Telangana Power Utilities, the request has been ignored without any reason. Left with no option, the Telangana government had to approach the Court of Law,” he added.

TRS leader T.Harish Rao used to be the most adorable leader in the party. Because Harish played a key role in TRS since its inception in 2001 and also in Telangana statehood agitation.

He was No.2 in TRS after KCR being KCR’s nephew and used to be a ‘bridge’ between KCR and TRS leaders/cadre. He maintained cordial relations with all the leaders and cadre in party.

For that reason, any leader in TRS who face any issues in the party or in their political career used to open up before Harish believing that Harish will help them out being a well wisher of all in the party. They used to rely on Harish Rao on all the issues in the party.

But of late, the buzz in TRS circles is that nobody is believing Harish Rao as party leaders and cadre are seeing Harish as a ‘spy’ of KCR.

While leaders in TRS are opening up before Harish and telling all the problems being faced by them in the party, Harish is quietly listening to them and later simply passing on all the information to KCR.

Party circles say Etela Rajender is the classic victim of Harish Rao’s ‘spying’. Etela who also worked with Harish Rao since TRS inception, believed Harish to be his true and close friend. He opened up before Harish and complained about the flawed policies of KCR in his second term in office and about KCR ill-treating ministers. Etela believed Harish as Harish was also sidelined in party and govenment in KCR’s second term.

But Harish took this as an opportunity to get closer to KCR and passed on all the information told by Etela against KCR. This is cited as the main reason for KCR expelling Etela from cabinet.

Leaders in TRS now realised that KCR is using Harish only as a ‘spy’ and Harish is not that genuine person what they used to believe all these days and open up before him.

Is the TRS planning something very big to upset the BJP’s plans in Huzurabad? Is it trying to lure former MP and money-bag politico G Vivek into the TRS. If Vivek is lured into the BJP, the party would be left without a major funder for the party. So, the reports that TRS minister and KCR’s nephew Harish Rao met Vivek secretly at the latter’s residence are causing disquiet in the BJP.

Highly placed sources say that Harish Rao went over to Vivek’s house late in the night and invited him into the TRS. Vivek is an important cog in the BJP wheel as he is from the scheduled caste and is big leader. Also, he owns V6 TV channel and Velugu newspaper. An industrialist, Vivek is very useful to the BJP. However, of late, he is upset with the BJP over not getting the kind of importance that he deserves. He is unhappy over not getting a favourable response on Rajya Sabha seat.So, the TRS is trying capitalise on this discontent.

Sources say that the TRS has offered him a Rajya Sabha seat. In return, he would have to join the party. While one does not know what Vivek’s response is. But if Vivek leaves the BJP, it would be a big blow for the party especially at a time when the Huzurabad bypolls are round the corner.

Vivek, who comes from a diehard Congress family, joined the TRS when the Telangana agitation was at its peak. However, the TRS marginalised him and forced him out of the party. He went back to the Congress and then joined the BJP. He has been playing a key role in the BJP affairs and is said to have played a key role in getting Eatala Rajender into the BJP.

No leader appears to be more tensed in TRS than TRS senior leader and minister T Harish Rao over the outcome of upcoming Huzurabad by poll.

This is because TRS chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has entrusted the task of Huzurabad victory to only Harish Rao, who is known as ‘trouble shooter’ in TRS.

Since TRS is in trouble now due to Etela Rajender, Huzurabad task was given to trouble shooter Harish.

Harish’s situation too is not good these days. KCR entrusted Dubbak by poll task to Harish in November 2020. But Harish received a jolt from BJP which wrested seat from TRS in Harish’s own Undivided Medak district.

Harish realized that the situation is no better in Huzurabad as TRS lacks a strong candidate who can match a leader of stature of Rajender.

For this reason, Harish did not visit Huzurabad so far and has been operating from Siddipet.

Harish is holding meetings everyday in Siddipet and luring Etela’s supporters into TRS by making bumper offers.

Harish is preparing ground to completely isolate Etela from TRS leaders and cadre in Huzurabad before he steps in his constituency.

Harish supporters feel that KCR instead of handing over Huzurabad responsibility to his son KTR, he cleverly roped in Harish, to see that KTR’s image is not hit if TRS loses and Harish can be blamed for this.

KTR represents Siricilla constituency in Undivided Karimnagar district under which Huzurabad too falls. But he was not made in charge for Huzurabad.

Harish represents Siddipet in Undivided Medal district. He no way relates to Karimnagar district. But still he was made in charge.