The defection of two Telugu Desam Party legislators into the Telangana Rashtra Samithi that led to the virtual closure of the TDP shop in the state seems to have hit hard the Congress party more than the TDP itself.
There was not much reaction or condemnation from the TDP over the development, because the party appears to be aware of it.
Only TDP Telangana unit president L Ramana said his party would explore the legal options to challenge the merger of the TD legislature party with the TRS legislature party.
But Congress legislature party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka appears to be very much hurt over the decision. He said it was atrocious on the part of the TRS to get the TDLP merged with the TRSLP.
“This is the height of the violation of democratic norms. This has been done as part of the TRS party’s overall strategy of decimating the entire opposition. KCR has degraded the politics in Telangana and made the state No. 1 in political defections,” Bhatti said.
He alleged that the chief minister was least bothered about the suicides of the unemployed youth but was more interested in stifling the voices of those who question his undemocratic decisions.
“His only objective it to lure the MLAs of other political parties. This is atrocious,” the CLP leader said.
Bhatti said democratic atmosphere would flourish in the state only if there is a strong opposition.
“Architect of the Constitution of India Dr B R Ambedkar has clearely defined the role of the powerful opposition which should act like a watch dog,” he said.
He pointed out that in the past, too, the TRS has bought several Congress and TDP MLAs by offering them huge money and other benefits.
“It is for the Election Commission to take action on the merger, not the state legislature,” the Congress leader said.