Hyderabad: Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Wednesday accused the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leadership of provoking farmers to malign the state government. He alleged that the party was trying to create unrest among cotton growers for political gain.
Reacting to comments made by BRS leader Kalvakuntla Kavitha, Tummala said the party should resolve its internal contradictions first. “Don’t turn the whole state into a battleground to hide your issues. Answer your own daughter’s questions first,” he remarked, referring directly to Kavitha.
Centre’s cotton policies under fire
Tummala defended the state’s position on cotton procurement. He blamed the ongoing ginning mill strikes on the Centre’s policy approach. While the Prime Minister announces MSP procurement, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) sets restrictive conditions that hurt farmers, he said.
According to him, Telangana remains the only state consistently buying crops at MSP. “We requested CCI to accept cotton with up to 20% moisture. We also asked for the removal of the 7 quintal-per-acre yield limit,” he explained. He urged the Centre to revise CCI norms to protect farmers from further financial distress.
Tummala responds to Kavitha’s criticism
His remarks followed a statement by Kavitha during her ‘Jagruthi Jana Bata’ tour in Khammam. She had blamed BRS founder K. Chandrashekar Rao for sidelining senior leaders like Tummala, calling it a major reason for the party’s downfall.
Tummala’s counterattack has generated political interest, particularly because of its timing. His comments have exposed internal tensions and sharpened the spotlight on BRS’s internal rifts.