BRS has once again insulted the identity of Telangana. The party, which had already dropped “Telangana” from its name and rebranded itself as BRS, has now decided to boycott the Vice Presidential elections. This move has triggered criticism that BRS is indirectly working to defeat Telangana’s own son, Justice Sudarshan Reddy, who is contesting for one of the highest constitutional positions in the country. Instead of openly supporting him, the party chose to stay away, drawing sharp anger from Telangana society.
Congress has slammed the move, alleging that BRS is helping the BJP. Party leaders said this reflects KCR’s dictatorial style, where no one from Telangana should enjoy prominence or high office other than his own family. TPCC leaders accused BRS of indirectly working for the victory of the NDA candidate as part of a secret understanding with the BJP.
A Telangana Son’s Rise
Justice Sudarshan Reddy, born in a farmer’s family in Akulamaillaram village near Kandukur, Ranga Reddy district, rose to become a Supreme Court judge. His nomination as the INDIA bloc candidate for the Vice Presidential election has been hailed as a moment of pride for Telangana. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi too declared open support, calling him a “fellow Hyderabadi.” But BRS’s refusal to back him has stunned citizens and civil society in the state.
The decision has also strengthened criticism that BRS has become a family party with little regard for Telangana’s larger interests. Observers note that while the state should have celebrated one of its own reaching such heights, BRS has chosen to indirectly work against him.
Kejriwal Shows Maturity, KCR Does Not
What has surprised many is that even the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which recently quit the INDIA bloc and is a direct rival of Congress in four states, still decided to vote for Justice Sudarshan Reddy in the name of protecting the Constitution and democracy. All major opposition parties across the country have extended support, describing his candidature as a matter of national importance and Telugu pride. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also appealed to all Telugu people to unite, stressing that just as Telugu is the second-most spoken language in India, Telugu leaders should also earn that level of respect nationally.
Analysts believe BRS’s decision not to support a Telangana son contesting for such a high constitutional post amounts to a grave insult to Telangana. By boycotting the elections, BRS has committed a historic mistake and missed an opportunity to strengthen Telugu pride on the national stage.