Congress demands Telangana CM declare assets

The Congress party in Telangana on Tuesday demanded that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to declare his assets and seek fresh mandate in 12 assembly constituencies where the legislators of opposition parties defected to ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Congress state vice president Mohammed Ali Shabbir said Chandrasekhar Rao should disclose all his assets which he accumulated since floating the TRS in 2001.

"In his affidavit filed before the Election Commission, KCR disclosed the assets of Rs 85.98 lakh while contesting from Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat in 2004 elections. His assets grew to Rs 15.15 crore by 2014 elections," he said.

Shabbir said the TRS chief should explain as to how his assets increased by almost 17 times in one decade, though his party was only running a movement for separate state.

The Congress leader demanded that TRS chief disclose source of funding for party headquarters Telangana Bhavan, Telugu daily 'Namasthe Telangana' and television news channel 'T-News channel, in which his family has stakes.

Ridiculing the TRS leader's speech at his party's training camp, Shabbir said it was surprising that KCR was speaking about morality and ethics while practising most unethical politics.

He pointed out that during last 11 months, the chief minister lured 12 assembly members and 13 legislative councillors of opposition parties to his party-fold.

"If KCR really believes in ethics and morals, then he should ask all 12 MLAs to resign and seek fresh mandate," demanded Shabbir, who is also leader of opposition in the legislative council.

The Congress leader said KCR never honoured his words. "Before elections he told the people that his son and daughter were well settled in the US and he too was not aspiring for any post. He also promised to make a Dalit the chief minister. However, he became the chief minister and almost all his family members are now holding top positions," he said.

KCR's son and nephew are ministers in his cabinet while his daughter is an MP.