A Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA sparked controversy when he taunted defectors by telling them to wear saris and bangles, suggesting they lacked the qualities of men. Telangana BJP MLA P Kaushik Reddy made this statement during a press conference, as he named the MLAs who switched to the ruling Congress.
“All the ten who left the party should move wearing saris and bangles. If you are brave enough, you should do politics like a man. If you don’t resign before the Speaker’s decision, we will definitely send saris and bangles to your house through courier,” said Reddy, displaying saris and bangles.
He said, “You are not men, so wear these and go around.”
Ten BRS MLAs have defected to the Congress after the BRS lost power in the last Assembly election.
In response, Congress leader Bandru Shoba Rani lashed out at Reddy, accusing him of insulting women. She addressed the media while holding up a shoe, stating, “You showed sari and bangles. I will show you footwear. We will beat you up with footwear if you insult women.”
Rani is the chairperson of the state women’s co-operative development corporation and is a state Congress vice president.
The BRS, still reeling from the defections, has demanded the disqualification of all 10 MLAs who joined the Congress. The matter has now reached the Telangana High Court. On Monday, the court directed the Assembly Secretary to present the disqualification petitions for three defecting BRS MLAs—Danam Nagender, Tellam Venkat Rao, and Kadiyam Srihari—before Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. The Speaker has been given four weeks to establish a schedule for addressing the petitions.
Reddy said that the MLAs should resign before the Speaker takes a decision on the disqualification petition.
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao hailed the court’s directive as a win for democracy. “Now, the honorable Speaker Garu has 4 weeks to restore transparency and uphold the sanctity of the House. We fought relentlessly for this moment, no more betrayal of the people’s mandate! Jai Telangana!” Rao posted on X.
