Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of shielding Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and KT Rama Rao (KTR) in the phone-tapping scandal. Speaking at a Congress election rally in Nizamabad, he questioned why the BJP-led Union government had failed to act on Telangana’s request for a Red Corner Notice against accused officials Prabhakar Rao and Sravan Kumar, who fled to the United States.

Revanth Reddy further alleged that the BJP used the phone-tapping case to pressure the BRS into withdrawing from the upcoming MLC elections, claiming that BRS leaders were threatened with arrests. He also criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for not arresting KTR in the alleged Formula-E race and sheep procurement scams, suggesting that the BJP and BRS have a secret deal to protect each other’s interests.

Taking strong exception to the Chief Minister's allegations, Kishan Reddy said the former was only throwing mud at BJP as if he is still in opposition.

Speaking to reporters here Monday night in response to the CM's comments, the Union Minister said Revanth Reddy's speeches reflected his fear of failure though the Congress is only contesting one of the three seats for which election would be held.

BJP-BRS deal? Allegations fly as MLC polls approach

The Chief Minister accused the BJP and BRS of striking a political bargain, allowing the BJP to win eight Lok Sabha seats while the BRS forfeited deposits in eight constituencies. Despite not contesting the MLC elections, the BRS has been urging voters to defeat Congress, further fueling suspicions of political collusion between the former ruling party and the BJP.

Revanth Reddy also targeted the BJP for failing to push Maharashtra to approve the Pranahita Chevella project, which he claimed would have boosted prosperity in Adilabad district. He alleged that former CM KCR is conspiring against the Congress government from his farmhouse, despite being rejected by the people in the last elections.

Defending his government’s record, Revanth Reddy highlighted that the Congress administration has created 55,163 government jobs, waived ₹21,000 crore in farm loans benefiting 25 lakh farmers, and is providing ₹12,000 per acre annually under the Rythu Bharosa scheme. He also blamed the KCR-led BRS government for Telangana’s massive debt, stating that the Congress is now repaying ₹75,000 crore annually to clear the financial burden left behind.

As the MLC elections approach, the Congress-BJP-BRS political battle is intensifying, with accusations flying from all sides, shaping what is set to be a high-stakes electoral showdown in Telangana.