KTR Demands Fresh Elections Over MLA Defections

BRS working president K T Rama Rao today launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, and asked him to prove his claims of public approval in the panchayat elections by making the ten defected BRS MLAs resign and seek a fresh mandate.

Addressing a victory meeting of newly elected BRS sarpanches in Sircilla, KTR threw an open challenge to the Chief Minister to test the latter's claimed 66% support in the "court of the people".

Addressing the gathering, KTR mocked the Chief Minister's contradictory statements made during a recent press conference in Hyderabad, and said, "The Chief Minister claimed that Congress secured 66% in the local elections and called it a blessing for his government. Yet, within five minutes, he took a U-turn, stating that local elections are fought on local issues and caste, not on government performance. Mr Chief Minister, if you truly believe the people are with you, accept my challenge: make those 10 MLAs you bought like cattle resign. Let us go for by-elections. The people will decide who has the real strength and who has the real percentage."

Taking a dig at what he termed the moral bankruptcy of the defected legislators, KTR expressed dismay over the conduct of senior leaders Kadiyam Srihari and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, and said, "It is pathetic to see leaders who served as ministers and Speakers stooping so low for blade-of-grass positions. They proudly announced their joining of the Congress in front of Rahul Gandhi, yet shamelessly lie before the Speaker, claiming they are still with the BRS. Clinging to power like bats, their political credibility is completely ruined."

KTR also alleged that even the Speaker's office was being pressured by the Chief Minister to ignore concrete evidence and shield the defectors.

He claimed that the panchayat election results were a clear lesson for the Congress for deceiving farmers, women and BC communities. Despite the Congress government allegedly using the police and official machinery to intimidate the opposition, the BRS won 80 out of 117 panchayats in Sircilla, KTR said.

"Even with ministers and the Chief Minister himself touring the districts, the people showed that they want KCR's leadership for the welfare of villages. The pink flag is flying high because the public trusts our vision over the Congress' conspiracies," he said.

Urging the party rank and file to remain steadfast, KTR assured the gathering that the BRS would extend full support to any worker facing threats or harassment. He announced that a massive membership drive and the formation of new village-, mandal- and district-level committees would commence in the coming year, blending the experience of seniors with the energy of youth. He called upon the cadre to maintain the same momentum for the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad elections to ensure a clean sweep.