Hyderabad Taking strong exception to BRS MLAs joining the ruling Congress in Telangana, BRS leader K T Rama Rao on Monday said his party had seen similar defections in the past when the Congress was in power and that the grand old party had to eventually "bend." .
Responding to BRS MLA from Jagtial Sanjay Kumar switching allegiances to Congress on Sunday, Rao, who is working president of BRS, said people power is always stronger than the people in power.
"We have faced several defections of MLAs in the past, between 2004 and 2006, when the Congress was in government. Telangana responded strongly by intensifying the popular agitation and finally the Congress had to bow its head. The story goes will repeat," Rao said in 'X'.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), led by K Chandrasekhar Rao, suffered another setback on Sunday when Kumar joined the Congress.
Kumar was welcomed to the Congress by Chief Minister and PCC president A Revanth Reddy, party sources said.
He is the fifth BRS MLA to join the Congress. Kumar, a doctor by profession, was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the second time.
Kumar's joining the Congress came close to senior BRS MLA and former Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy switching to the grand party on June 21.
Earlier, BRS MLAs Kadiam Srihari, Danam Nagender and Tellam Venkat Rao joined the ruling party.
Apart from these MLAs, several other BRS leaders, including Hyderabad Mayor Vijaya Laxmi R. Gadwal, have also joined the Congress.
There have been speculations that more BRS MLAs would join the Congress in the coming days.
BRS had won 39 of the total 119 Assembly seats in the elections held last year, while the Congress came to power with 64 seats.
BRS MLA from Secunderabad canton G Lasya Nanditha died in a road accident earlier this year.
Congress won the recently held electoral vote for Secunderabad Cantonment segment. This led to an increase in its MLAs to 65.
Responding to BRS MLA from Jagtial Sanjay Kumar switching allegiances to Congress on Sunday, Rao, who is working president of BRS, said people power is always stronger than the people in power.
"We have faced several defections of MLAs in the past, between 2004 and 2006, when the Congress was in government. Telangana responded strongly by intensifying the popular agitation and finally the Congress had to bow its head. The story goes will repeat," Rao said in 'X'.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), led by K Chandrasekhar Rao, suffered another setback on Sunday when Kumar joined the Congress.
Kumar was welcomed to the Congress by Chief Minister and PCC president A Revanth Reddy, party sources said.
He is the fifth BRS MLA to join the Congress. Kumar, a doctor by profession, was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the second time.
Kumar's joining the Congress came close to senior BRS MLA and former Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy switching to the grand party on June 21.
Earlier, BRS MLAs Kadiam Srihari, Danam Nagender and Tellam Venkat Rao joined the ruling party.
Apart from these MLAs, several other BRS leaders, including Hyderabad Mayor Vijaya Laxmi R. Gadwal, have also joined the Congress.
There have been speculations that more BRS MLAs would join the Congress in the coming days.
BRS had won 39 of the total 119 Assembly seats in the elections held last year, while the Congress came to power with 64 seats.
BRS MLA from Secunderabad canton G Lasya Nanditha died in a road accident earlier this year.
Congress won the recently held electoral vote for Secunderabad Cantonment segment. This led to an increase in its MLAs to 65.
