BRS Keep Losing MLAs and MLCs, KCR Drive Meetings,32 Members Left

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) led by former Chief Minister of Telangana K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) is facing a severe crisis as several of its legislators have defected to the Congress party in recent weeks. Despite KCR’s efforts to keep the party’s flock together, the BRS has been on the receiving end of these defections. Several senior BRS legislators, including those considered very loyal to KCR, have left the party to join the Congress.

Loss of BRS Members

The exodus began after the BRS’s defeat in the 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly elections. As of now, at least seven BRS MLAs have joined the Congress, including Kale Yadaiah, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Dr. N. Sanjay Kumar, and Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy. Even BRS MLCs like T. Bhanu Prasad Rao, who were sent to the Legislative Council multiple times by KCR, have also defected to the Congress.

Congress’s Lure

The Congress, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has been actively poaching BRS legislators, seeing it as an opportunity to consolidate its position in the state. The party is reportedly aiming to lure at least 26 BRS MLAs to avoid the provisions of the anti-defection law. The BRS, which had 39 seats in the 119-member Telangana Assembly, is now left with only 32 MLAs after the recent defections. This crisis has also fueled speculation of a possible rebellion within the party. The BJP is also waiting in the wings, hoping to emerge as an alternative to the Congress if the BRS continues to weaken.

KCR’s Efforts

K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) is moving heaven and earth to held back BSR’s MLAs and MLC’s, the worried ex-CM of Telangana is sparing no efforts in saving the leak

Holding Emergency Meetings.

KCR has been holding a series of emergency meetings with BRS MLAs and other key leaders to instil faith in them that the party will bounce back despite its recent defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections. He has been assuring them that being out of power is only a temporary phase and the party will see better days again.

 Considering Legal Action

The BRS is contemplating taking the legal route to disqualify the turncoat MLAs who have defected to the Congress. The party has already consulted legal experts to bring the case of Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender, who joined Congress first, to the Supreme Court. According to a Supreme Court order, the Assembly Speaker has to decide on petitions against defecting MLAs within three months.

Preventing Merger of BRS Legislature Party

If Congress can engineer the merger of the BRS Legislative Party (BRSLP) by getting at least 26 of the 39 BRS MLAs to quit, the defecting MLAs may escape disqualification. The BRS is trying to prevent this merger from happening.

Highlighting Past Defections by KCR

The Congress has hit back at the BRS, recalling that KCR, when he was in power, had encouraged defections and admitted 12 Congress MLAs in 2019[4]. The Congress has questioned why the BRS did not make those who defected earlier resign from their posts.

Waiting for Opportune Time

With the Congress and BJP looking to consolidate their gains in the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, the BRS faces an uphill task to resurrect itself following the exodus of leaders. The party is waiting for the right time to bounce back when the ruling Congress loses its current popularity. However, despite KCR’s efforts, the defections continue unabated, with even legislators considered very loyal to him leaving the party. The BRS is struggling to hold its flock together in the face of the relentless poaching by the Congress.

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