Pragathi Bhavan: Myth, Misinformation and the Politics of Personal Vendetta

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For nearly a decade, Telangana politics witnessed an intense campaign of personal vilification centred around former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and his official residence, Pragathi Bhavan.

The building was repeatedly branded as a “gadi” (feudal fort), with sensational claims of “gold-plated bathrooms” and “200 bedrooms” doing the rounds, amplified by political rivals and sections of social media.

Curiously, in the last two years, no YouTuber or self-styled exposé artist has attempted a “house tour” of Pragathi Bhavan to showcase these alleged luxuries. Earlier, it was argued that such videos were not made because KCR, dubbed a “dora”, resided there. Today, with a Congress Dalit leader and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikra-marka occupying the same premises with his family, the silence is telling. The reason, many argue, is simple: those extravagant claims never existed.