Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud has reaffirmed that the 10 Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs who crossed over to the Congress did so for a clear and “specific” purpose — to safeguard the State government from destabilization attempts. His remarks, made during a media interaction on Friday, directly contradict the claims of the MLAs, many of whom have insisted they remain associated with the BRS. Goud stated that the defections were driven by pressure and threats from both the BRS and the BJP, which were allegedly working to topple the Congress government.

The TPCC president further launched a scathing attack on BRS working president KT Rama Rao, saying he lacked the moral authority to speak on defections. Goud reminded that large-scale MLA shifts had also occurred during the BRS regime, highlighting what he called KTR’s “double standards” on the issue. His comments carry weight as the Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has issued notices to the 10 legislators in question. While eight MLAs have replied claiming they are still with the BRS, two others — Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari and Khairthabad MLA Danam Nagender — have sought more time to respond.

The political drama has unfolded alongside a viral video circulating on social media in which Goud can be heard openly admitting that the MLAs joined Congress to shield the government. This comes just days after Speaker Kumar initiated anti-defection proceedings, intensifying the spotlight on the turncoat legislators. With both the Congress and BRS trading sharp accusations, the controversy reflects the heightened tension in Telangana politics, where defections continue to play a decisive role in shaping the balance of power.