Rahul Gandhi must explain ‘MLA Chori’ in Telangana: KTR

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of maintaining a ‘conspiratorial silence’ over the spate of defections of BRS legislators into the Congress fold.

Mr. Rama Rao said while Mr. Rahul Gandhi frequently raises the issue of ‘vote chori’ in national politics, he has failed to utter a word against what he described as ‘brazen MLA chori’ in Telangana. “This is a crime worse than the so-called vote chori he keeps talking about,” Mr. Rama Rao charged.

The BRS leader demanded that Mr. Gandhi respond to the statements of defected MLAs, who, despite winning on BRS tickets and later joining the Congress, are now claiming they had not switched parties. “The Congress’s role in this shameless chori proves its double standards,” he said.

Mr. Rama Rao recalled that several of these MLAs were seen draped in Congress scarves and even posed for photographs with Mr. Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, images which were proudly circulated by Congress leaders.

Posing a barrage of questions to Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Rama Rao said, “If this is not MLA chori, then what is it? How is this any less serious than vote chori? ” The BRS leader also warned that such defections undermine democracy and erode public trust. He said the Congress government, instead of addressing people’s issues, was indulging in unconstitutional tactics to weaken the opposition.