Hyderabad: Highlighting the financial burden left by the previous BRS govt, chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday asserted that the Congress govt’s borrowing has primarily been to clear the massive debt inherited from the BRS administration, amounting to Rs 8.19 lakh crore. Revanth revealed that the state had borrowed Rs 1.58 lakh crore so far, with a significant portion going towards servicing the existing debt.
Revanth informed the assembly that out of the Rs 1.58 lakh crore borrowed, the govt had already repaid Rs 88,591 crore towards the principal loan amount and Rs 64,768 crore in interest, totalling Rs 1.53 lakh crore in debt servicing. After fulfilling these obligations, the Congress govt has just Rs 4,682 crore left from the borrowings, which he said should be regarded as the actual loan taken by the Congress administration.
“We want to run a transparent govt and inform the people of where every rupee is spent,” Revanth said.
“After debt servicing, what remains is only Rs 4,682 crore. Our primary goal is to repay the loans taken by the previous govt. Our true bosses are the people of Telangana – especially the poor SCs, STs, BCs, and minorities – and not those relaxing in farmhouses,” he said in response to questions raised during the motion of thanks to the governor’s address.
Revanth accused the former BRS govt of burdening the state with debt during its decade-long rule, challenging former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao to participate in a debate on the debt issue in the assembly. He further invited KCR to come to the assembly for a discussion on the state’s financial situation and to clarify what each party has contributed towards the state’s development.
In response to accusations made by BRS MLA T Harish Rao regarding the Congress govt’s borrowings, Revanth said, “I am going on record with the statistics I am presenting. If the BRS proves me wrong, I’ll apologise to KCR, but only if he agrees to a discussion in the assembly. Let the truth prevail.”
Revanth presented the figures to back his claims, noting that when the Congress govt assumed power, the state’s debt stood at Rs 7.71 lakh crore. As of Dec 1, 2023, before the Congress govt came to power, the debt had reached Rs 6.69 lakh crore.
“There were another Rs 40,154 crore in pending bills of employees, capital works, and schemes, and another Rs 1.09 lakh crore in dues payable to discoms, Singareni Collieries, etc., which pushed the total debt to Rs 8.19 lakh crore,” he said.
Between Dec 2023 and Feb 28, 2025, the Congress govt had borrowed Rs 1,58,041 crore and paid Rs 1,53,359 crore toward servicing the debt, including interest. As of now, the debt stands at Rs 7.38 lakh crore due to repayments.
“I am accountable to the people of Telangana who entrusted me with this responsibility. I do not wish to deceive them with false promises,” Revanth said. “If necessary, we know how to bring KCR to the assembly from his farmhouse,” he said.