Hyderabad: BRS Working President, KT Rama Rao on Tuesday criticised the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for allegedly poaching MLAs from his party in Telangana.

Speaking to the national media, he recalled Rahul Gandhi’s promise to strengthen anti-defection law, “the same person who announced in his party’s Nyay Patra that if any MLA/MP switches parties there will be automatic disqualification by amending the 10th schedule of the Constitution, and he is now disrespecting the Constitution today by taking our MLAs.”

He added, “That is why we have come to Delhi, to explore all legal, political, and constitutional methods to expose the Congress and BJP. We will raise this issue in the Rajya Sabha and take it to the Supreme Court.”

“Additionally, we will meet the constitutional custodian, the President of India, and other constitutional bodies, including the Election Commission of India, Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Chairman, and request them to do justice,” he said.

KTR pointed out that Rahul Gandhi had made Congress candidates in Goa take an oath against defections. Now, Congress leaders are circling around BRS MLAs’ houses in Telangana. “In the 2023 elections, we won 39 seats, but after the demise of one MLA, we were left with 38. The Congress has since included seven of our MLAs in its fold,” the BRS Working President said.

Citing an allegation made by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that each Congress MLA was offered Rs 50 crore by BJP, he questioned the cost offered to purchase MLA’s in Telangana.

Dwelling upon past incidents, KTR said, “When Congress MLA Shyamkumar joined the BJP and became a minister in Manipur in 2020, the Congress party fought against it. The then Congress State President, Chandrashekhar, went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court gave a judgment that three months are enough for the Speaker to decide on the disqualification.”

He said that if the Speaker does not act on this within three months, then they will definitely go to the Supreme Court to seek justice.

Accusing LoP Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy, KTR said, “The person who talks about amending the 10th schedule of the Constitution and makes three defectors sit on the stage, definitely deserves an Oscar.”

He vowed to strengthen anti-defection law in collaboration with parties affected by the Congress and BJP, advocating for an automatic cancellation of membership upon switching of party, as stated in the Panch Nyay document.