Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday announced the construction of a brand new official building for the state government in New Delhi, in place of the existing one which is part of the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan at Ashoka Road. The CM, who is in the national capital, was on Tuesday allotted an official residence by the Centre.

Reddy has been assigned the residence at No. 23 on Tughlaq Road, and he entered it for the first time on Tuesday. It's noteworthy that the same building was previously occupied by K. Chandrashekar Rao in 2004 when he served as a Union minister in the first UPA government. Rao occupied the residence again from 2014 to 2023 during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Telangana.

He was in the capital for a series of meetings, with a particular emphasis on addressing the division of assets between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This included discussions on the partition of the Andhra Bhavan located in the capital.

Upon arriving in Delhi, Reddy conducted a review of the assets issue, discussing matters with Telangana Bhavan resident commissioner Gaurav Uppal and OSD Sanjay Jaju at his official residence.

Reddy enquired the officials about the total area of the building, its condition, and Telangana’s share in the complex. “The officials informed him that the total undivided land of AP Bhavan is 19.78 acres and the existing building complex is located on 8.781 acres of land. The Old Nursing Hostel is built on 3.359 acres and the Pataudi House is constructed on 7.641 acres of land,” the official note stated.

The officials told Revanth that Telangana will get 8.245 acres of land and the AP’s share will be 11.536 acres as per the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act. They said most of the buildings are in dilapidated condition and the repairs are being done.

“The CM told them that a new building should be constructed which reflects the cultural traditions of Telangana,” the CMO statement stated.

Earlier in the day, Reddy also examined the Bhavan map with officials, ordering them to focus on the division of assets and issuing multiple orders in this regard.

Reddy met AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal on the day to discuss Cabinet expansion to fill six vacancies, nomination of MLCs, and filling up nominated posts in state-owned corporations.

In his meeting with the senior Congress leaders, Revanth Reddy is anticipated to address concerns related to the party in Telangana, including the proposed expansion of the state cabinet. On December 7, a total of 11 cabinet ministers, in addition to the chief minister, were sworn in, and there is an opportunity to induct another six ministers.

“Revanth Reddy will also submit a copy of the resolutions adopted at the PCC’s political affairs committee (PAC) meeting held on Monday, including the request to Sonia Gandhi to contest from Telangana in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He would also seek the consent of the high command to fill up nominated posts and vacant corporation chairpersons posts,” the PCC leader quoted above said.

The Chief Minister will return to Hyderabad on Tuesday night and take part in the Assembly session, which will resume on Wednesday.

Image source: Times of India