BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao on Friday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, daring him to prove his claims of approval of people in panchayat elections by making the ten defected BRS MLAs resign and seek a fresh mandate. Addressing a victory meeting of newly elected BRS Sarpanches in Sircilla, KTR threw an open challenge to the Chief Minister to test his 66% support claim in the court of the people. Addressing a gathering, KTR mocked the Chief Minister’s contradictory statements made during a recent press conference in Hyderabad.

"The Chief Minister claimed Congress won 66% in local polls and called it a blessing for his government. Yet, within five minutes, he took a U-turn, stating local polls are fought on local issues and caste, not government performance. Mr. Chief Minister, if you truly believe the people are with you, accept my challenge: Make those 10 MLAs you 'bought like cattle' resign. Let us go for by-elections. The people will decide who has the real strength and who has the real percentage," KTR thundered.

Taking a dig at the moral bankruptcy of the defected legislators, KTR expressed dismay over the conduct of senior leaders like Kadiyam Srihari and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy. "

It is pathetic to see leaders who served as Ministers and Speakers stooping so low for 'blade-of-grass' positions. They proudly announced joining Congress in front of Rahul Gandhi, yet shamelessly lie before the Speaker claiming they are still with BRS. Clinging to power like bats, their political credibility is completely ruined," he remarked.

KTR further lamented that even the Speaker’s office is being pressured by the Chief Minister to ignore concrete evidence and shield the defectors. He asserted that the Panchayat election results are a clear lesson against the Congress for deceiving farmers, women, and the BC communities. Despite the Congress government allegedly using the police and official machinery to intimidate the opposition, KTR highlighted that the BRS won 80 out of 117 Panchayats in Sircilla.

"Even with Ministers and the Chief Minister touring districts, the people have made it clear: they want KCR’s leadership for the welfare of villages. The pink flag is flying high because the public trusts our vision over Congress’s conspiracies," he stated.

Urging the party rank and file to remain steadfast, KTR assured that the BRS would provide full support to any worker facing threats or harassment. He announced that a massive membership drive and the formation of new village, mandal, and district committees would commence in the coming year, blending the experience of seniors with the energy of the youth. He called upon the cadre to maintain the same momentum for the upcoming ZP and Mandal Parishad elections to ensure a clean sweep.

Party payments negate defection charge: Speaker

Telangana Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has cited the continued payment of monthly party maintenance funds as the primary reason for dismissing the disqualification petitions of against five of the 10 BRS MLAs, who allegedly switched over to the ruling Congress. Prasad Kumar had, on December 17, dismissed the disqualification petitions against the BRS MLAs.

"In the present case, the contention that the monthly contributions of Rs 5,000 towards the Legislative Party Fund continued to be collected and accepted on behalf of the respondent (MLA) until 05-03-2025 cannot be construed as anything other than contributions made to the party itself (BRS); to contend otherwise is wholly untenable and absurd,” the Speaker observed in one of the petitions. Furthermore, the allegation of defection of 10 MLAs from the BRS party out of their existing strength of 38 MLAs into the Congress when the ruling party already commands support of 64 legislators does not, in any manner, affect the stability or continuity of the government, which was never dependent on their support for its survival, he said.

Also, the BRS party did not issue any notice or disciplinary action against the allegedly defected MLA for any absence or for any alleged anti-party conduct. The petitioner admittedly did not file any document showing BRS party considered the “defected” MLA’s conduct as "defection." The Speaker’s order also pointed out that that BRS Working President stated on the Assembly floor that BRS had 38 MLAs, implying the Respondent ( allegedly defected MLA) was still counted as the opposition Member at that time, he was "sitting in a different row," which petitioner interpreted as symbolic of defection, admittedly he had no copy of the party constitution or clause defining "anti-party activity."

On BRS criticism over Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar's dismissal of the disqualification petitions against the BRS MLAs, Revanth Reddy had said he and other Congress leaders cannot respond as a political party on the Speaker's decision. The BRS can approach the courts against the Speaker's decision, he added. Describing the Speaker's decision of junking disqualification petitions against five BRS legislators as a “cruel joke” in democracy, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao alleged that the Presiding Officer was acting on the behest of the CM. Rama Rao further said the party would challenge the decision in the court of law.