Even as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) K Chandrasekhar Rao is addressing a much-anticipated public meeting in Jagtial on the occasion of joining of former Congress minister T Jeevan Reddy into the party, the sudden Delhi visit of senior leader T Harish Rao has kicked up a political debate in the state.
While BRS sources maintain that the visit is related to seeking legal advice in light of the Telangana High Court’s impending verdict on the Kaleshwaram project, the Congress leaders have offered a different interpretation.
Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy told reporters at Medigadda that KCR had forced Harish Rao to go to Delhi to prostrate before the Bharatiya Janata Party bosses in Delhi to see that the Centre would not order a CBI probe, if the high court directs so in its verdict scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday.
Another senior Congress leader and Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy alleged internal discord within the BRS.
He claimed that Harish Rao had not been happy with the induction of Jeevan Reddy into the party and hence, he was asked not to be present in the state at the time of the public meeting.
The MP also recalled that when K T Rama Rao visited Jeevan Reddy’s residence, Harish Rao was notably absent.
Questioning the timing of recent developments, he asked why Harish Rao chose to visit Delhi just as KCR was preparing to step out for a public meeting after a long hiatus.
Chamala further stated that details of whom Harish Rao met and the nature of his discussions in Delhi would soon come to light.
He asserted that the people of Telangana were already aware of Harish Rao’s future political plans.
The BRS, however, quicky issued a statement, saying KCR deputed a three-member BRS committee headed by Harish Rao to New Delhi to formulate a legal strategy ahead of crucial judicial developments.
The delegation includes Harish Rao, former MP Boinapally Vinod Kumar, and Rajya Sabha MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra. As part of their visit, the committee would hold consultations with senior advocates of the Supreme Court of India.
“Discussions are focused on the possibility of approaching the Supreme Court following the High Court’s verdict, and on determining the next legal course of action in the MLA defection cases,” the BRS said.