JP Nadda calls Telangana govt 'ATM Sarkar' for Congress, cites ₹1,000 crore claim
Synopsis
J.P. Nadda's 'ATM Sarkar' broadside in Hyderabad is more than a soundbite — it frames the BJP's core electoral narrative against Telangana's Congress government: that the state is being run as a revenue machine for Delhi's party leadership, not its own citizens. With specific allegations on Kaleshwaram and double-bedroom housing, the attack is pointed and politically timed.
Key Takeaways
Nadda branded the Telangana government an 'ATM Sarkar' during a visit to Hyderabad on 9 July .
He alleged ₹1,000 crore annually is reportedly sent from the state to the Congress leadership, citing claims linked to CM A.
Revanth Reddy's statements.
Nadda alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project and the double-bedroom housing scheme , claiming cost inflation and beneficiary exclusion.
He said Telangana received its full 42 per cent tax devolution share — ₹2.74 lakh crore — dismissing claims of Centre's neglect.
AIIMS Bibinagar now serves 1,800 patients daily; nationwide AIIMS count has grown to 23 since 2014 .
Nadda cited ₹51 lakh crore in direct benefit transfers over a decade, preventing ₹4.3 lakh crore in leakages.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda on Thursday, 9 July launched a sharp attack on the Telangana government during a one-day visit to Hyderabad, branding it an 'ATM Sarkar' that allegedly channels public funds to the Congress leadership in New Delhi.
The Core Allegation
Addressing a gathering of intellectuals, Nadda alleged that the state administration under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was funnelling money meant for citizens into party coffers. 'According to claims surrounding Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's statements, the state is allegedly expected to send Rs 1,000 crore annually to the Congress family,' he charged. The allegation, which Nadda attributed to statements reportedly linked to Revanth Reddy, has not been independently verified.
Nadda further alleged governance failures in two flagship projects — the Kaleshwaram irrigation project and the double-bedroom housing scheme — claiming costs were inflated and genuine beneficiaries remained excluded. The Telangana government has not yet issued a formal response to these specific charges.
Centre's Record on Telangana Funding
Refuting claims by the state leadership that the Centre had neglected Telangana, Nadda described the narrative as a 'bundle of lies'. He asserted that Telangana had received ₹2.74 lakh crore in tax devolution, representing its full 42 per cent constitutional share. He also dismissed attempts to stoke a 'South versus North' divide as politically motivated.
On infrastructure, Nadda said ₹1.74 lakh crore had been allocated for national highways in the state, with 2,674 km constructed over the last decade. He added that the aim was to ensure every part of Telangana could access Hyderabad within four hours, with 42 railway stations currently undergoing redevelopment.
Healthcare Expansion Highlighted at AIIMS Bibinagar
Earlier in the day, Nadda, alongside Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, visited AIIMS Bibinagar near Hyderabad. He noted that the number of AIIMS institutions nationwide has grown from one at the end of the 20th century to 23 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership since 2014, with 18 currently fully operational.
AIIMS Bibinagar, sanctioned in June 2022, has had funds exceeding ₹1,000 crore sanctioned, with ₹110 crore spent so far. The facility currently serves approximately 1,800 patients daily through its OPD, staffed by 132 faculty members and 133 senior doctors. It offers MD programmes across 24 disciplines and DM/MCh programmes across 5 disciplines.
National Achievements Cited
Nadda highlighted India's broader development record, stating that ₹51 lakh crore had been disbursed directly to beneficiaries over the last decade through digital frameworks, preventing approximately ₹4.3 lakh crore in leakages. He contrasted this with a past Prime Minister's admission that only 15 paise of every rupee had previously reached its intended recipient.
He also cited pharmaceutical exports worth ₹2.6 lakh crore to 291 countries in 2025 and a 500 per cent increase in electronics production as markers of India's economic transformation. The number of medical colleges, he added, has risen from 370 to 820.
As the BJP intensifies its campaign in Telangana ahead of future electoral cycles, Nadda's visit signals a sustained effort to hold the state Congress government accountable on both governance and fund-flow narratives.
Point of View
Not just rhetoric — it attempts to convert every welfare shortfall in Telangana into a Congress-at-the-Centre story, pre-empting the state government's own narrative of central neglect. The ₹1,000 crore claim is attributed to statements 'surrounding' Revanth Reddy, which is notably hedged and unverified; mainstream coverage has largely treated it as a direct charge. The BJP's dual-track strategy — attack on corruption, showcase on infrastructure and health — mirrors its successful playbook in other Congress-governed states. Whether the Telangana electorate finds the Centre's fund-flow data more credible than its own on-the-ground experience will be the real test of this messaging.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did J.P. Nadda mean by calling Telangana an 'ATM Sarkar'?
Nadda used the term 'ATM Sarkar' to allege that the Telangana government, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, was diverting public funds to the Congress party's central leadership in Delhi rather than spending them on citizens. He claimed, citing statements reportedly linked to Revanth Reddy, that ₹1,000 crore is allegedly sent annually to the Congress leadership.
What specific corruption allegations did Nadda make against the Telangana government?
Nadda alleged irregularities in two schemes — the Kaleshwaram irrigation project and the double-bedroom housing scheme — claiming costs were inflated and many genuine beneficiaries were excluded. The Telangana government had not issued a formal rebuttal to these specific charges at the time of his visit.
How much central funding has Telangana received, according to Nadda?
Nadda stated that Telangana has received ₹2.74 lakh crore in tax devolution, representing its full 42 per cent constitutional share, and ₹1.74 lakh crore for national highways, with 2,674 km constructed over the last decade.
What did Nadda say about AIIMS Bibinagar during his Hyderabad visit?
Nadda visited AIIMS Bibinagar, sanctioned in June 2022, and noted that it currently serves around 1,800 patients daily with 132 faculty members and 133 senior doctors. Funds exceeding ₹1,000 crore have been sanctioned for the facility, with ₹110 crore spent so far.
Why is the BJP focusing on Telangana at this point?
The BJP, which is in opposition in Telangana, is building a sustained accountability campaign against the Congress state government ahead of future electoral cycles. Nadda's visit — combining political attacks with infrastructure and healthcare showcases — reflects a dual-track strategy the party has deployed in other Congress-governed states.
