Rajanna Siricilla (Telangana) [India], December 19 : BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) 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 CM to test his "66% support" claim in the court of the people, said a press release.
Addressing a gathering, KTR mocked the Chief Minister's "contradictory" statements made during a recent press conference in Hyderabad.
"The CM 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 the by-elections. The people will decide who has the real strength and who has the real percentage," KTR said.
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 CM to ignore concrete evidence and shield the defectors.
KTR 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 CM 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.