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BRS MLA Rathod Bapu Rao set to join the Congress; TPCC chief taken into preventive custody

Revanth Reddy had challenged KCR to come to Martyrs Memorial and promise not to use alcohol or money to win the upcoming Assembly elections.

Raj Rayasam

Published Oct 17, 2023 | 8:40 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 17, 2023 | 8:41 PM

Rathod Bapu Rao

File photo of Rathod Bapu Rao. (RathodBapuraoMLA/Facebook)

A day ahead of the arrival of senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Telangana to kick-start a bus yatra, Boath BRS MLA Rathod Bapu Rao called on Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday, 17 October, and expressed his desire to join the grand old party.

Reddy, meanwhile, was taken into preventive custody while protesting in Hyderabad, but let go later in the day.

Bapu Rao called on Revanth Reddy after Telangana Chief Minister and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao picked Anil Jadhav to contest the seat in the 30 November Assembly elections in the state.

Bapu Rao recently resigned from the BRS, setting off speculation that he would be in the Congress camp before long.

KCR chose Anil Jadhav as the prospects of his victory from Boath appeared better. Jadhav, who contested independently in 2018, secured 28,206 votes, losing to Bapu Rao by a slender margin of 6,486 votes.

Also read: Dissidence hits Congress over candidate choices for Telangana polls

Revanth in preventive custody

The day also witnessed high drama at the Gun Park in front of the state Assembly.

Revanth Reddy, after daring KCR to take a vow before the Martyrs Memorial in the Gun Park that his party would use neither money nor liquor to lure voters in the upcoming Assembly elections, tried to reach the place to keep his word.

But the police, who were posted in full strength at Gun Park, prevented him from getting anywhere near the memorial, arguing that they could not allow him since the model code of conduct for the elections was in force.

When Revanth Reddy did not relent, the police took him into preventive custody and moved him away in a vehicle. They dropped him off at Gandhi Bhavan.

As the confrontation with the police was going on, the busy area filled up with Congress workers, creating a traffic snarl.

They tried to obstruct the police vehicles when they were moving Revanth Reddy from the place. An irrepressible Revanth Reddy climbed to the top of the police vehicle and staged a protest against their “high handedness.”

Also read: KTR accuses Congress of selling tickets for Telangana polls

Taking on the BRS

After reaching Gandhi Bhavan, Revanth Reddy lashed out at the Telangana government for allegedly chickening out from his challenge.

“By not turning up at the Martyrs Memorial, KCR has indirectly admitted that the BRS would use both money and liquor to purchase votes,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, he took exception to KCR and other BRS leaders levelling allegations against the Congress that it was set to use money and liquor to influence voters.

In fact, it was the BRS and BJP which spent hundreds of crores of rupees in the by-election for Huzurabad and Munugode, he claimed.

The fact that alcohol worth ₹300 crore was bought in a span of one month in Munugode proved that the BRS depended on liquor to win the seat, he said.

He said that the Congress had distributed neither money nor liquor in Munugode, and that the BRS earned the dubious distinction of making the Huzurabad by-election by far the most expensive.

Related: Revanth Reddy says people will throw out BRS in Assembly polls

Congress’ bus yatra

Revanth Reddy took exception to the police taking him into preventive custody at the Martyrs’ Memorial.

“As KCR was levelling allegations against us, I proposed that they take a pledge against using liquor and money. But the police, in the name of lack of permission, took me into custody,” he said.

“The people of Telangana wanted freedom, social justice, and equitable development. But KCR has restricted water, jobs, and funds to his family,” he said.

Referring to the tragic end of TSPSC aspirant Pravalika, he said that the government, had spun a yarn — that she had an affair — to cover up its failure in conducting the TSPSC examinations which led her to end her life, unmindful of the agony it would cause her family.

Meanwhile, the Congress is preparing for the bus yatra commencing from Wednesday at Mulugu after Rahul and Priyanka offer prayers to Lord Shiva at the Ramappa Temple in the erstwhile Warangal district.

They will place the document containing six guarantees the party has made to the people at the feet of Lord Shiva and offer prayers. “After we all pray to him, we will begin our Bus Yatra,” Revanth Reddy said.

On Wednesday, the bus yatra will touch Mulugu and Bhupalapally. On the second day, the yatra will visit Karimnagar, and on the third day, Nizamabad.

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