Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha launched the verbal attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi this Christmas morning, revisiting exchanges from the recent Telangana election where the Congress threw BRS out of power.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi legislator Kavitha called the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi "Election Gandhi" and asked for clarification on the stance of the party-led INDIA opposition bloc regarding controversial statements, particularly referencing the 'Sanatana Dharma' dispute from September.
K Kavitha launched the verbal attack on Congress MP this Christmas morning, revisiting exchanges from the recent Telangana election where the Congress threw BRS out of power.
In a stark comment, she stated, "We are witnessing unfortunate statements today from many political leaders. This process to gain votes from a few sections will ultimately divide the country in ways we cannot imagine. For example, when some parties talk about 'Sanatana Dharma,' or insult laborers who clean toilets."
The reference to 'Sanatana Dharma' pertains to a statement made by Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, while the "insult laborers" remark relates to a 2019 clip of DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran, where he appeared to speak disparagingly about individuals from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar seeking employment in the southern states.
Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK is in alliance with the Congress, both being part of the INDIA bloc.
Highlighting these incidents, Kavitha, the daughter of BRS leader and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), emphasized the gravity of such statements, asserting, "these statements should not be taken lightly."
She urged Rahul Gandhi to take these matters seriously, claiming, "If Rahul Gandhi, who talks about 'Bharat Jodo'... if he took these seriously from the beginning, when 'Sanatana Dharma' was insulted and crores across India were hurt, then maybe the other statements would not have been made."
She dubbed him 'Election Gandhi' and urged him to address these concerns before the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
These sharp remarks follow the recent electoral defeat of the BRS in Telangana, a state it had governed since 2014.
The election witnessed intense campaigning not only between the BRS and the Congress but also involved the BJP, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making multiple appearances as part of the 'Mission South' initiative.
The political exchanges between the Congress and the BRS escalated in the lead-up to the polls, with both parties trading bitter jabs. The election results saw Congress candidate Sudarshan Reddy winning the Bodhan seat, while BRS' Mohd Shakil Aamir finished in second place.
The political landscape also saw exchanges about "dynastic politics," borrowed from the BJP's rhetoric. Prior to the state election, the BJP and BRS engaged in a war of words over a potential alliance, with accusations from both sides about attempts to join forces in the past.
In the aftermath of the BRS's loss in Telangana, some observers view Kavitha's comments as a potential overture to the BJP ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election scheduled in four months.