'Isn’t this MLA Chori?': KTR accuses Congress, Rahul Gandhi of poaching amid defection row

Amid the continuing political row over “vote chori” allegations, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao on Friday hit out at Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of “MLA chori” and poaching BRS legislators.

In a post on X, Rao shared photographs of several BRS MLAs wearing what appeared to be Congress scarves and posed pointed questions to Gandhi: “Can you recognise the Congress scarf? Do you recognise these defected BRS MLAs who had also met with you in Delhi? Now all these MLAs who joined Congress after winning on BRS ticket are saying they didn’t switch parties and this isn’t Congress scarf. Do you agree? Isn’t this MLA Chori? How is this any less than Vote Chori? Aren’t you ashamed of your complicity?”

The fresh attack comes as Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar issued notices to 10 BRS MLAs after the party sought their disqualification on grounds of defection. Acting on petitions filed by the BRS, the Supreme Court recently directed the Speaker to deliver a decision within three months.

Meanwhile, several Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs accused of defecting to the Congress have denied the charges in their responses to Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.

According to reports, leaders including Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy, Kale Yadaiah, Gudem Mahipal Reddy, and Arikepudi Gandhi said they remain with the BRS and only met Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to seek development funds for their constituencies.