KTR calls Speaker’s decision on defecting MLAs ‘undemocratic’, targets Rahul Gandhi
HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao criticised the Telangana Assembly Speaker’s decision on disqualification petitions against defecting MLAs, calling the verdict “undemocratic” and “shocking”.
He alleged that the ruling was taken under pressure from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and accused the Congress leadership of orchestrating defections in the state.
KTR said the Speaker had little independence in the matter and that the Congress leadership was directly managing defections. He described the decision as an assault on democratic norms and the Constitution.
“The main perpetrator and the criminal mind behind this decision is Rahul Gandhi. He is the real culprit. Without his permission and approval, the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly would never have dared to take such a shocking decision,” KTR said.
Questions on defections and B-Forms
KTR questioned the Congress party’s moral authority to speak about political defections.
“Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have absolutely no moral right to lecture anyone about political defections,” he said.
He cited the example of an MLA elected on a BRS B-Form who later contested as a Congress candidate in a parliamentary election without resigning from the Assembly. KTR alleged that despite this, the Speaker refused to disqualify the legislator.
“An MLA who won on one party’s B-Form contests as an MP candidate on another party’s B-Form without resigning. Despite such clear evidence, the Speaker refuses to disqualify him. This is nothing short of political manipulation,” he said.
KTR added that records of the Election Commission show the B-Forms used during the Assembly and parliamentary elections. “What further inquiry is needed?” he asked.
Criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s stance
The BRS leader also criticised Rahul Gandhi for speaking about automatic disqualification of defectors during speeches in Telangana.
“Rahul Gandhi talks about automatic disqualification if someone defects. He came to Telangana and delivered lectures on justice and democratic values. Now he must answer how such blatant defections are being protected,” KTR said.
KTR also said the Congress historically had no credibility on the issue of defections, referring to the ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’ political culture that emerged during the Congress era in Haryana. He alleged that similar practices had occurred earlier in the undivided Andhra Pradesh.
He concluded that people in Telangana were closely watching the developments and would respond through democratic means.
