Published Feb 17, 2026 | 7:36 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 17, 2026 | 7:36 AM
Former Telangana finance minister T Harish Rao. (TrsHarish/Facebook)
Synopsis: Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao has alleged that the Congress and the BJP had set aside their ideologies and joined hands solely to capture power in local bodies in Telangana. Following the municipal body elections, the BRS has been accusing the Congress of striking covert deals with the BJP to edge it out and gain mayoral posts in closely contested bodies.
Senior BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao, on Monday, 16 February, alleged that the Congress and the BJP had set aside their ideologies and joined hands solely to capture power in local bodies in Telangana.
In a strongly-worded statement, he said that the two national parties had proved how far they could stoop for the sake of political power. “Is change synonymous with joining hands with the BJP? Is this the change you promised?” he asked, taking a swipe at the ruling Congress.
He said that for the past 12 years, the Congress had branded the BRS as the BJP’s “B-Team” and the BJP had accused the BRS of being the Congress’s “B-Team.”
The latest municipal outcomes, he claimed, had exposed both parties as “anti-Telangana forces” that had now turned into a single team.
Following the municipal body elections, the BRS has been accusing the Congress of striking covert deals with the BJP to edge it out and gain mayoral posts in closely contested bodies.
Harish Rao termed the Congress-BJP understanding as “unholy and immoral”, aimed solely at keeping the BRS out of power. He said the results in places such as Aliabad, Amangal, Medak and Narsapur were proof of this covert understanding.
“In Delhi, they fight each other. In the galli (streets), they join hands and share posts,” he remarked, alleging that chairperson and vice-chairperson posts were being divided between the two parties.
Training his guns at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, he asked whether the government in Telangana was being run by the Congress, the BJP, or a coalition of both the parties and the TDP. “From Aliabad to Amangal, from Metpally to Medak, people are watching these dark agreements,” he said.
Harish Rao alleged that the Congress lacked the strength to take on the BRS independently and had therefore compromised its principles to join hands with the BJP. He accused the two national parties of manipulating results and resorting to political manoeuvring to capture municipalities where the BRS had emerged strong.
He contrasted the Telangana Congress’ actions with the stand of Rahul Gandhi at the national level. “Rahul Gandhi is fighting the BJP across the country, holding up the Constitution in Delhi. But in Telangana, the Congress under Revanth Reddy is joining hands with the BJP and undermining the Constitution,” he alleged.
Harish Rao also questioned Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, asking whether they were aware of the BJP’s cooperation with the Congress in chairperson elections at the municipal level. “In Delhi, you speak of ‘Congress-mukt Bharat.’ Here you are proving it is ‘Congress-yukt BJP,’” he said.
According to him, the alleged coming together of the two national parties was a sign of their fear of the BRS’ grassroots strength. “Unable to face us alone, they have come together to attack the BRS. This only reflects our growing influence,” he said.
Citing specific examples, Harish Rao claimed that in Narsapur municipality, the Congress secured the chairperson post while the BJP took the vice-chairperson post. In Sirpur-Kagaznagar, he said, despite the BRS winning a clear majority with 11 seats, the Congress and the BJP joined hands to “hijack” the top positions.
In Aliabad, he alleged, the Congress managed to secure the chairperson post with the support of three BJP members. In Metpally, he claimed, the Congress extended support to enable the BJP to capture power. Similar covert arrangements, he alleged, took place in Amangal.
He further alleged that in some municipalities and municipal corporations, the BRS stayed away from voting in protest against what he described as the “Fevicol bond” between the Congress and the BJP.
Harish Rao also accused the ruling party of misusing the administrative machinery and police in municipalities such as Kyathanpally, Thorrur, Jangaon and Zaheerabad, where the BRS had won a majority of seats.
He alleged that councillors were being intimidated and officials were being used as pawns to deny the BRS its rightful claim to leadership positions.
He claimed that in some districts, the Congress had allied with the AIMIM, while in northern Telangana, it had joined hands with the BJP, questioning whether this amounted to responsible governance.
“The Congress in the mask of the BJP and the BJP in the mask of the Congress are working together. Telangana is disgusted with this unholy alliance,” Harish Rao said, adding that people would give a fitting reply to both parties in the coming days.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
