HYDERABAD: In a sensational claim, TPCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud on Friday alleged that BRS MLA T Harish Rao and BJP MP Eatala Rajender met at a farmhouse on the outskirts of Hyderabad two days ago and then telephoned former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to discuss what to say before the PC Ghose Commission investigating the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.
“As per my information, Eatala Rajender met Harish Rao at a farmhouse at Shamirpet about two days ago. They then telephoned KCR,” the TPCC chief told reporters at a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, in Hyderabad.
It may be recalled that KCR, Harish Rao and Rajender have been summoned by the Ghose Commission for cross-examination. They are scheduled to appear on June 5, June 6 and June 9, respectively.
During the planning, design and construction of the project, barrages of which eventually collapsed in October 2023, KCR was the chief minister, Harish Rao handled the Irrigation portfolio, while Rajender was the finance minister.
Mahesh suggested that KCR, Harish Rao and Rajender had decided to deliver coordinated statements without deviation before the commission.
These allegations come amid explosive claims by KCR’s daughter K Kavitha, who recently alleged that BRS and BJP had discussed a merger.
Using Kavitha’s statement, the state Congress chief strongly criticised both the pink and saffron parties and stated that Rajender’s deposition would be a crucial test of Kavitha’s claims.
“Rajender, would you remain in the team of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by revealing truths about the Kaleshwaram project before the Commission, or would you give a statement that would benefit KCR and go against Modi’s position? It is going to be crystal clear with the deposition that you are going to make,” he noted.
Responding to Union Minister and BJP state president G Kishan Reddy’s denial of merger talks with BRS, Mahesh demanded answers to questions raised by BJP MLA T Raja Singh.