Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 9 (ANI): Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Wednesday said that the World Bank recognising Telangana as an Upper-Middle-Income economy is an international acknowledgement of the visionary leadership and administrative excellence of BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).

Referring to the latest recognition, KTR said that Telangana, with a per capita income of Rs 4.19 lakh (US$5,407) for the financial year 2025-26, has entered the World Bank's Upper-Middle-Income category, becoming one of only five Indian states to achieve this milestone.

According to the party release, he said this remarkable achievement reflects the extraordinary economic transformation Telangana has undergone over the past decade under KCR's leadership.

KTR emphasised that the World Bank's validation of Telangana's economic progress is not merely a statistical accomplishment but an international endorsement of KCR's vision, commitment, and governance model.

He recalled that Telangana, which had suffered decades of neglect before its formation, transformed its economic destiny within just ten years to emerge as one of India's fastest-growing and most prosperous states.

He noted that, unlike other states that benefited from long-standing industrial and economic advantages, Telangana reached this milestone through visionary leadership, bold reforms, and innovative governance.

He highlighted landmark initiatives such as TS-iPASS, which revolutionised industrial approvals and attracted unprecedented investments, along with flagship programs like the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, Mission Kakatiya, and Rythu Bandhu. According to him, these initiatives laid a strong foundation for inclusive growth, agricultural development, industrial expansion, and improved employment opportunities across the state.

As per the release, KTR said that challenging the status quo requires a reformer, delivering exceptional results requires an efficient administrator, and transforming the destiny of a state requires a true visionary. He remarked that these qualities define KCR's leadership and asserted that the World Bank's recognition is yet another proof that Telangana's development model has earned global credibility.

Criticising the Congress government, KTR urged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to immediately stop portraying Telangana as a bankrupt state in an attempt to cover up his government's failure to fulfil its election promises.

He said repeated attempts to project the state as being in financial crisis have been completely exposed by internationally recognised economic indicators.

KTR reiterated that the World Bank's recognition once again confirms that Telangana has been built on the strong economic foundation laid during the BRS government's tenure.

He stated that the people of Telangana clearly understand the difference between a government that led the state on the path of progress through vision and performance and one that seeks to conceal its failures through misinformation. (ANI)