Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader K. Kavitha on Sunday, 1 June alleged that the Telangana Congress government is pursuing a hidden agenda to privatise the state's remaining two power distribution companies (DISCOMs) under the cover of setting up a dedicated farmers' DISCOM. Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Kavitha demanded that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy make a formal public declaration on the matter rather than offering assurances through informal media interactions.

The Privatisation Allegation

Kavitha argued that creating a separate farmers' DISCOM is not a welfare measure but a structural manoeuvre designed to isolate agricultural consumers and leave the remaining two DISCOMs open to private takeover. She said the plan had been kept under wraps for six months before surfacing, and accused the Chief Minister of now speaking 'slyly under the guise of chit-chat' rather than making a transparent announcement.

She challenged Revanth Reddy to publicly pledge before voters in the upcoming elections that the two DISCOMs will not be privatised, and questioned whether the government had the political courage to do so. 'If there is truly no intention to privatise, do they have the courage to go before the people and say so?' she asked.

Demand for Formal Announcement

Reacting to the Chief Minister's informal remarks — in which he reportedly said the government would not scrap 24-hour free power to farmers and would not install meters on agricultural connections — Kavitha said such assurances carry little weight unless made in an official press conference. She said the Chief Minister's track record of not honouring public promises made his informal words even less credible.

'When this Chief Minister claims he will not scrap free electricity, it only raises more suspicion,' she said, adding that 'past bitter experiences' were the reason her party could not take his statements at face value.

Legal Action Threatened

Kavitha said Telangana Jagruti has already filed a legal case on the matter. She appealed to the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) not to grant permission for the farmers' DISCOM under any circumstances, warning that her party would challenge any such approval all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Broader Farmer Grievances Cited

Kavitha also listed what she described as a pattern of the Congress government failing Telangana's farming community. She alleged that under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, financial assistance was extended only to farmers with less than two acres, that the farm loan waiver had not reached even 30 per cent of eligible beneficiaries, and that the government was attempting to walk back on a promised bonus for farmers.

'They promised to procure even the last grain of paddy, but have still not done the procurement properly,' she said, also alleging that crop insurance had been converted into accidental insurance — a move she characterised as anti-farmer.

Solar Sector Concerns

Separately, Kavitha alleged that a new government order (G.O.) issued by the Centre — restricting solar project opportunities to companies that manufacture panels and batteries within India, with only five days given for compliance — was effectively wiping out small and medium-scale solar players. She demanded that the Union Government immediately withdraw the order, arguing it harms lakhs of small traders in the renewable energy sector.

With legal proceedings already initiated and the ERC application pending, the farmers' DISCOM controversy is set to intensify as Telangana approaches its next electoral cycle.