Sabitha Indra Reddy is a five-time MLA who left Congress to join the erstwhile TRS (which was renamed BRS) in 2019.
Published Jul 31, 2024 | 11:55 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 31, 2024 | 11:55 PM
Former Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and Telangana CM
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA representing Maheshwaram Sabitha Indra Reddy, on Wednesday, 31 July brought reference to the past personal rivalry while engaging in a debate with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in the Assembly. In an attempt to clear himself of the accusations, the chief minister too had a few uncomplimentary things to say about the MLA.
There was already much clamour in the house as Sabitha Indra Reddy began speaking, alleging that the Congress was deliberately targeting her. “The Chief Minister asked KTR (MLA KT Rama Rao, son of K Chandrashekhar Rao, Telangana’s first chief minister) not to trust me, why is he so vengeful against me?” she asked.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had earlier said that trusting ‘akkalu’ (‘elder sisters’, referring to Sabitha Indra Reddy and Vakiti Sunitha Laxma Reddy, both MLAs who were earlier in the Congress party) would drag KTR down to the Jubilee Hills bus stand. The implication that trusting the BRS MLAs would reduce the party to nothing triggered loud disapproval from the Opposition.
Sabitha Indra Reddy is a five-time MLA, who has served as state minister for home affairs, besides holding the portfolio of Handloom, Textiles, and Spinning Wheels. She left Congress to join the erstwhile TRS (which was renamed BRS) in 2019.
The MLA recalled that this was not the first time the chief minister had targeted her; she said he had questioned her loyalty during the election campaign in December 2023.
“You said my words could not be trusted, but do you not remember who treated you like a younger brother when you joined the Congress?” she asked the Chief Minister, adding that it was her who persuaded him to join the Congress party, seeing his leadership potential.
Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar intervened to ask the MLA to address him, and not the Chief Minister directly. In his response, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said, “There are political conversations, and there are personal ones. Since the MLA has brought up personal conversations, it is only right that I clarify the context in the Assembly.”
Revanth Reddy was interrupted by a massive uproar from the BRS, and IT Minister Sridhar Reddy pleaded for basic courtesy as the Leader of the House spoke.
“After I lost in my Kodangal seat in 2018, Sabitha akka asked me to contest from Malkajgiri, predicting I’d win,” Revanth Reddy explained. He said the moment his name was announced as the candidate for the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency, the MLA quit Congress and joined BRS.
“I asked KTR not to trust her because she left the Congress right after I was announced as the Malkajgiri candidate. She did that even though she encouraged me to contest the elections,” he said, adding that she had even offered to campaign for him. “It is hypocritical, when she talks of loyalty with that history,” he said.
Outraged by the chief minister’s accusations, BRS MLAs walked out of the house and sought an apology. ‘Tanaashahi Nahi Chalega!’ they protested, “Down with Dictatorship!” Addressing media people later, Sabitha Indra Reddy said she regretted asking Revanth Reddy to join the Congress. “He has no respect for women, and claims we will bring doom upon any party,” she said.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas)
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