How Congress's actions in Telangana contradict its poll manifesto

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee is determined to win many Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections.

The Indian National Congress has launched its manifesto, Nyay Patra, for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The manifesto, which is called Paanch Nyay, focuses on justice and equality and includes five key areas: 'Yuva Nyay', 'Naari Nyay', 'Kisaan Nyay', 'Shramik Nyay', and 'Hissedari Nyay'. However, there is a notable contradiction in the manifesto. It pledges to amend the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which would mean automatic disqualification for members of the Assembly or Parliament who defect from their original party. But this stands in contrast to what has happened in Telangana, where many defections have occurred within the Congress party.

In the Telangana assembly polls, the Congress party's victory over the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) marked a significant turning point. The Congress party has been gaining strength daily, with many BRS members defecting to Congress recently. Over a dozen top leaders and hundreds of activists have crossed party lines, and this trend continues as more individuals show interest in joining Congress.

Last month, Telangana Chief Minister and PCC Chief Revanth confidently stated, "No one will be left in the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) now, except KCR family members." This statement was made during a press conference marking 100 days of the Congress-led government in the state. A few hours later, key figures within the BRS, Ranjith Reddy and Danam Nagendra, joined the Congress in the presence of Revanth and All India Congress Committee Telangana in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi.

Some recent defections from the BRS party to the Congress party have caused controversy. Leaders of the BRS party claim that Revanth's actions stem from his perceived fears about threats to his government. They also allege that his public speeches have referenced warnings made by the BRS party about the potential downfall of the Congress-led government.

Political analyst TR Rao has provided some context to these events. Rao suggests that defections are not uncommon in Indian politics and that parties often use such tactics to strengthen their positions. He highlights the history of defections in Telangana, citing examples where the BRS party has engineered defections to consolidate their power.

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Congress senior leader Mohammed Shabbir Ali also recalls instances of defection initiated by KCR shortly after he assumed power in June 2014. Between 2014 and 2018, KCR orchestrated the defection of 4 MPs, 25 MLAs, and 18 MLCs. Furthermore, in his second term, he engineered the defection of 14 MLAs, including 12 from the Congress party. The BRS party has also attracted many Sarpanches, ZPTC, MPTC, Councillors, Corporators, and other leaders from opposition parties.

It is speculated that several BRS MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly) may also defect to the Congress party soon. They may join Congress in the presence of senior leader Rahul Gandhi during the upcoming Jana Jatara public meeting at Tukkuguda on April 6. While their formal admission into the party may not occur during the public event, they are expected to be welcomed into the Congress party at a separate gathering with Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee is determined to win many Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections. The party leaders are striving hard to attract influential personalities from the BRS to accomplish this objective. Their efforts have already shown significant results as reports suggest that three to four MLAs and Rajya Sabha MP K Keshava Rao will likely join the Congress party.

Nyay Patra

Rumours are that an MLA from the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency might defect to the Congress party. The sitting MPs from Warangal, Chevella, and Peddapalli have joined the Congress, along with other important leaders like former MLA Koneru Konappa and GHMC Mayor Gadwala Vijayalakshmi.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is actively overseeing preparations for the upcoming Jana Jatara public meeting at Tukkuguda on April 6. This event is significant, as AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will attend it. They are expected to unveil the Telugu version of the party's Lok Sabha poll manifesto. The Chief Minister is reviewing the arrangements for the event with great care and detail.

On defection, K. T. Rama Rao, the working president of the BRS, took to social media to address the situation. On Friday, Rao expressed confidence in the resilience of the people of Telangana. He asserted they would respond resolutely to those seeking to undermine BRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).

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Reflecting on KCR's remarkable journey, Rao highlighted the transformative impact of his leadership. He emphasized how KCR, against all odds, spearheaded the movement for Telangana statehood, turning what seemed impossible into a reality. Rao praised KCR's unwavering courage in initiating this journey alone and rallying many supporters to overcome myriad challenges, including insults, betrayals, conspiracies, and plots.

In the wake of recent defections and challenges faced by the BRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi), Rama Rao, a prominent leader, issued a rallying cry to the people of Telangana. He urged them to stand by KCR (Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao), a leader who, with their unwavering support, navigated a 14-year struggle to achieve statehood for Telangana. Rama Rao emphasized that KCR's legacy would endure in the hearts of the people, who had witnessed firsthand the transformative changes brought about by his leadership, uplifting the lives of countless individuals across the state.

Looking towards the future, Rama Rao called for cultivating a new generation of leaders committed to the ideals of the Telangana struggle. He emphasized the importance of marching forward on the path paved by KCR, advocating for continued perseverance and dedication to the cause. In doing so, Rama Rao sought to galvanize support for the BRS and reaffirm its commitment to the welfare and progress of Telangana under KCR's visionary leadership.