KTR alleged that the turncoat MLAs had publicly declared their entry into the Congress and even boasted about being welcomed with party scarves, but were now telling “blatant lies” before the Speaker.
Published Dec 19, 2025 | 6:56 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 19, 2025 | 6:56 PM
Bharat Rashtra Samithi Working President KT Rama Rao
Synopsis: BRS Working President KT Rama Rao on Friday challenged Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to prove the Congress’s claimed public popularity by making 10 MLAs who defected from the BRS resign and contest fresh by-elections. Addressing newly elected BRS sarpanches in Sircilla, he accused Revanth of shielding turncoat MLAs, pressuring the Speaker to ignore evidence, and undermining democratic norms.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Friday, December 19, launched a blistering attack on Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the Congress government, daring him to prove his party’s claimed popularity by forcing the resignation of 10 “defector” MLAs and having them face fresh elections.
Addressing an interaction with newly elected BRS sarpanches in Sircilla, KTR said that if the Congress truly enjoyed the confidence of 66 per cent of the people, as claimed by Revanth Reddy, it should have no hesitation in returning to the electorate.
“If you have the courage and the moral code, make those 10 MLAs you illegally poached from the BRS resign and contest in by-elections. Let the people decide whom they really support,” he said.
The Telangana Speaker recently rejected a plea concerning the disqualification of five of the 10 MLAs.
KTR alleged that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was adept at changing positions within minutes.
Referring to Revanth Reddy’s recent media meeting in Hyderabad, he said the Chief Minister first projected the Congress’ performance in the Gram Panchayat elections as a public endorsement of his government, only to retreat moments later by claiming the polls were purely local in nature.
“If that 66 per cent support of people in Gram Panchayats claim is genuine, accept my challenge. The truth will be settled in the people’s court,” KTR asserted.
The BRS leader accused the MLAs who switched allegiance from the BRS to the Congress of abandoning principles for “insignificant positions.”
He named senior leaders such as Kadium Srihari and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, saying it was shameful that leaders who had once held high constitutional and ministerial offices had “stooped so low” for minor political inducements.
KTR alleged that the turncoat MLAs had publicly declared their entry into the Congress and even boasted about being welcomed with party scarves, but were now telling “blatant lies” before the Speaker by claiming they still belonged to the BRS.
“For the sake of posts, they are hanging upside down like bats. Their political lives have come to a standstill,” he said.
KTR then turned his attention to the Speaker and said that instead of acting as a neutral arbiter, he was being pressured by the Chief Minister to ignore evidence and echo the government’s version.
“Those who openly said they joined the Congress are now saying the opposite before the Speaker. This is nothing but a mockery of democratic norms,” KTR said, accusing the government of reducing constitutional offices to tools of political convenience.
Claiming that the Gram Panchayat election results reflected growing public disenchantment with the Congress, KTR said voters had delivered a clear rebuke to the ruling party for “betraying farmers, women and backward classes”.
Despite what he described as the misuse of the administrative machinery and the police, people had stood firmly with the BRS, he said.
Citing Sircilla as a key example, KTR pointed out that the BRS won 80 out of 117 Gram Panchayats in the constituency.
“This pink wave in Sircilla is proof that people have not accepted Congress’ claims. Even after the Chief Minister and ministers toured districts and resorted to intimidation, villagers stood by the leadership of K Chandrashekar Rao,” he said.
KTR asserted that the panchayat poll results demonstrated that rural Telangana continued to repose faith in the BRS model of governance.
“When villages need development and stability, people believe KCR’s leadership is the answer. The Panchayat polls have once again underlined that sentiment,” he added.
Seeking to reassure party workers, KTR urged them not to be intimidated by threats or phone calls. He called for unity between those who won and those who lost in the local body elections, stressing that collective effort was essential to rebuild the party’s grassroots strength.
He announced that the BRS would undertake a fresh membership drive next year and reconstitute village, mandal and district committees, blending the experience of senior leaders with new and younger cadres.
“We will build sharp, effective committees that strengthen the party at every level,” he said.
Expressing confidence about the future, KTR said the momentum seen in the Gram Panchayat polls would continue in the upcoming Mandal Parishad and Zilla Parishad elections as well.
“This is just the beginning. The people’s verdict from the villages is loud and clear,” he pointed out.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
