BRS accuses Revanth Reddy of constitutional violations, questions Rahul’s silence
Hyderabad: BRS MLC Dr. Sravan Dasoju on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accusing him of orchestrating widespread constitutional violations, undermining the Speaker’s authority, and encouraging mass defections of MLAs. He also questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s silence on the issue while continuing to raise concerns about “vote theft” in other states.
Addressing the media in Hyderabad, Sravan said Telangana was facing its worst constitutional crisis since statehood. He alleged that Revanth Reddy was deliberately blocking the Speaker from acting on disqualification petitions and misusing the Speaker’s office to protect defecting MLAs. “The Speaker is being cornered and humiliated just to shield unconstitutional actions by the Chief Minister,” Sravan said.
He specifically pointed to the Supreme Court’s recent warning that failure to act on disqualifications could invite contempt. The apex court had asked whether the Speaker would “spend New Year in jail” if he continued to delay. Sravan claimed that this pressure on Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, a Dalit leader, showed how the Congress was sacrificing constitutional values and social justice.
Sravan questions Rahul Gandhi’s silence on Telangana defections
Dr. Sravan contrasted Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide “vote theft” campaign with his silence over what he termed “MLA theft” in Telangana. “Rahul Gandhi cries foul in Bihar but remains silent when MLAs defect in broad daylight in his own party-ruled state,” he said. He pointed to earlier judicial precedents in West Bengal and Manipur where courts had ordered disqualifications. “But in Telangana, not one defector has lost their seat,” he added.
He accused Revanth Reddy of politicising the Speaker’s role and undermining the Anti-Defection Law, which Sravan said was enacted to protect the sanctity of democratic institutions. “If Revanth has any courage, let him ask for disqualification of the defected MLAs,” he said. Sravan also alleged that these MLAs switched parties only after seeing Revanth violate constitutional norms himself.
Calling the Speaker’s office “sacred,” Sravan appealed to the Congress government to stop interfering with its functioning. He invoked the legacy of former Lok Sabha Speaker G.V. Mavalankar, saying that even Prime Ministers had once respected the authority of the chair. “But today, the Chief Minister treats it like a puppet post,” he alleged.
Sravan ended by appealing to the people of Telangana to resist what he described as a collapse of democratic values. “If this continues, our democracy will suffocate,” he warned. “The people deserve justice, the Constitution deserves respect, and Telangana deserves answers.”