Congress MP asks KTR to check with KCR on party defections during BRS regime

Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy asked BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao to question his father K. Chandrasekhar Rao on party defections before making baseless allegations against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the MP said Mr. Rama Rao’s remarks that Rahul Gandhi was encouraging defections were ironic. “Before making such comments, Mr. Rao should visit his farmhouse and ask his father,” he said, referring to former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy reminded that after the formation of Telangana, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao encouraged large-scale defections to establish one-party dominance and weaken the Opposition in the newly formed State. “KCR demonstrated to what extent defections could be carried out. He even showed how defected MLAs could be rewarded with ministerial posts,” he said.

Mr Reddy cited instances where leaders elected on other party symbols were inducted into the Cabinet, alleging that those elected on the Telugu Desam Party and Congress symbols were made ministers after switching sides.

Criticising Mr. Rama Rao’s constant reference to Rahul Gandhi, he said the BRS leader has lost the credibility and just wants his presence felt as people no more believed him.

The MP also targeted BJP leaders in Telangana, including Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, alleging that they were attempting to mislead people over the Speaker’s powers.

Referring to statements about approaching the High Court, Mr Reddy said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently clarified in the Lok Sabha that courts cannot interfere in the constitutional powers of the Speaker. “Why are there contradictory statements from the Union Home Minister and his junior minister?” he asked.

Taking a swipe at Bandi Sanjay, the MP asked whether he had forgotten how defections were carried out in States such as Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka under the leadership of Mr. Amit Shah.