- Mahesh Kumar Goud counters BRS criticism over MLA’s inclusion
- Congress says support and party induction are different matters
The inclusion of Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender in the Congress star campaigners list for the Jubilee Hills by-election has sparked a heated political debate. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) questioned how a legislator elected on its ticket could appear on the Congress campaign roster. However, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief Mahesh Kumar Goud defended the decision, stating that there was nothing wrong with Danam supporting the party’s candidate in Jubilee Hills.
“What is wrong if Danam’s name is in our star campaigner list?” Goud asked, maintaining that Nagender had openly expressed his backing for the Congress. He clarified that extending support in an election is not the same as formally joining a political party. According to him, the decision was a practical strategy aimed at ensuring a strong performance and mobilizing all available supporters for the bypoll.
Responding to concerns about the anti-defection law, Mahesh Kumar Goud said that the matter rests with the Speaker. He stressed that Congress would respect the Speaker’s decision in the case. Calling the controversy unnecessary, Goud accused BRS chief K. Chandrashekar Rao of encouraging defections himself. “KCR is the patron of defections,” he alleged, adding that the KCR family had become a “care-of address for corruption.”
The TPCC president stated that the government under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy remained focused on development and welfare. He expressed confidence that Congress candidate Naveen Yadav would secure a decisive win in Jubilee Hills. When asked about internal party issues, Goud said that Konda Sushmita’s recent comments were avoidable and that the Konda couple had expressed regret. He also mentioned that senior leader Jeevan Reddy’s concerns would be discussed after receiving Minister Adluri Laxman’s report.
Meanwhile, Goud highlighted that the Congress campaign would continue with broad-based support, clear voter outreach, and strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct. He reiterated that the party’s goal was to run a disciplined, issue-driven campaign and not get distracted by controversies raised by rivals.
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates
