Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu took sharp aim at the opposition on Saturday, accusing them of colluding to restore feudal rule and dismantle the current welfare-focused administration. Speaking at a packed public meeting in Ashwaraopet, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Bhatti called on citizens to be wary of what he described as “plunderers” intent on derailing people-centric governance.

He urged the public not to fall for the rhetoric of what he termed looters, stressing the importance of continuing welfare policies under the Congress-led Indiramma government. “If KCR, his family and party looted the state’s wealth, was that acceptable?” he asked the crowd. “And now, is it wrong if that same wealth is shared among four crore people through welfare schemes?”

Bhatti Vikramarka accused former TRS leaders of splurging unaccounted money collected during their tenure, saying they lounged in farmhouses while hosting lavish political meetings and making irresponsible public remarks. “For ten years they drained the people like leeches,” he said, arguing that voters had turned to the Congress to escape such an oppressive era.

He revisited the Telangana statehood movement, recalling the aspirations for improved lives and economic prosperity. He credited Sonia Gandhi and the UPA government with backing Telangana’s creation in Parliament, under the belief that the region’s resources would directly benefit its own people.

The Deputy CM blamed the previous KCR-led government for leaving behind a debt of ₹7 lakh crores without delivering on major promises. “Where are the double-bedroom houses? The three acres of land for Dalits? Jobs in every home? KG-to-PG education in every mandal?” he demanded. He also criticised the lack of large-scale industrial or irrigation projects like Nagarjuna Sagar or SRSP.

He came down heavily on the Kaleshwaram project, calling it a ₹1 lakh crore disaster. “Even when advised against it, KCR pushed it forward, and now it has collapsed,” he said, alleging that KCR’s family bankrupted the state while pretending to act in public interest.

Bhatti Vikramarka painted a contrasting picture of the current Congress government under Revanth Reddy, claiming it had already sanctioned 3,500 Indiramma houses per constituency and committed to building 4.5 lakh homes at a cost of ₹22,500 crores. “Is KCR blind to all this?” he asked.

Highlighting recruitment achievements, he noted that the previous administration didn’t conduct a single Group-1 exam over a decade. In comparison, the Congress restructured the Public Service Commission and successfully held Group-1 exams after assuming office. “In just one and a half years, we’ve filled 57,000 jobs and have plans for another 30,000,” he said.

He spoke of the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme, launched with a ₹9,000 crore budget to support five lakh unemployed youth. Letters of sanction under this programme are expected to be distributed on June 2.

Bhatti Vikramarka questioned why KCR had ignored jobless youth for ten years. He also clarified that no welfare programme initiated by the previous government, such as Kalyana Lakshmi, had been scrapped. Instead, Rythu Bharosa was enhanced by ₹2,000 per beneficiary.

While promising loan waivers, the previous government failed to implement them, he said. In contrast, Congress had waived ₹2 lakh farm loans in its first year in power, spending ₹21,500 crores even amidst tight finances.

He pointed to the free monthly distribution of 6 kg of fine rice to 90 lakh families, costing ₹13,000 crores annually, and questioned why the opposition ignored this.

Bhatti Vikramarka further slammed the past government’s mistreatment of tribal women farmers. In a bid to uplift tribal communities, he announced the launch of the Indira Solar Giri Water Development Scheme on May 18 in Chenchu Colony, Achampet, Nagarkurnool district. The ₹12,500 crore scheme, to be inaugurated by CM Revanth Reddy, will provide solar-powered pump sets, sprinklers, and commercially valuable crops like avocado and palm oil to tribal farmers.

“We didn’t come to power to loot like KCR did,” Bhatti Vikramarka remarked bluntly.

He cited free RTC bus travel for women across the state as another welfare win, condemning KCR’s earlier remarks discouraging women from unnecessary travel. He also announced the development of Young India International Schools to provide quality education to children from economically weaker sections.

While accusing the previous regime of neglecting irrigation, Bhatti Vikramarka said the present government had identified and prioritised projects that could be completed within three years.

He ended by reaffirming the government’s focus on women’s empowerment. “Our goal is to ensure every woman lives with dignity,” he said, noting that ₹21,000 crores in interest-free loans had already been distributed to women’s self-help groups in the first year alone. The ultimate aim, he added, was to make one crore women millionaires over the next five years.