Congress’ desperate bid to engineer defections falters as BRS MLAs hold back

With growing internal dissent and uncertainty over Cabinet expansion, Congress’ backdoor dealings signal a party struggling to maintain control

Hyderabad: The Congress government in Telangana appears to be on shaky ground as its frantic attempts to lure BRS MLAs into its fold are failing to yield the desired results. Even as two petitions against the 10 defected MLAs are pending before the Supreme Court, the ruling party has stepped up its propaganda in media organisations that are friendly. However, the apparently coordinated media coverage has only exposed the party’s desperation to shore up numbers through undemocratic means, political analysts say.

A section of media has reported about attempts to get more BRS legislators to avoid anti-defection law provisions against those who already defected to the Congress party. The BRS leaders have slammed the Congress for resorting to “political horse-trading” instead of focusing on governance.

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While speculation was triggered about backroom negotiations following media reports, the Congress’ inability to secure defections had only highlighted the growing unease among defected MLAs over the ruling party’s stability and credibility.

According to BRS sources, the ruling dispensation was propagating rumours about defections of some MLAs and that the party was making grand promises, including ministerial berths and other incentives. But the plight of the already defected legislators in the Congress was itself acting as a deterrent for anyone to join the Congress. The defected legislators have already been facing stiff opposition from Congress leaders in their respective constituencies and the general negativity about the Congress rule among the public is also causing concern to them.

The Congress failed to deliver on promises made both to the people and to those who had already defected from BRS earlier, while the tide is turning in favour of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. “Why would any MLA risk their political future by joining a government that has already lost public confidence?” questioned former Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, terming the reports about BRS MLAs switching over as mere speculations.

“Those who switched sides earlier were promised ministerial berths and key positions, but they have been left in the lurch. The Congress leadership itself is in turmoil, with infighting over Cabinet expansion delaying decisions for months,” another senior leader observed.

Despite multiple attempts to break the opposition, the Congress has failed to muster the numbers required for a legal merger, raising questions about its political strategy. Out of 38 BRS MLAs, only 10 have defected, but legal hurdles remain. The Congress wants another 16 MLAs from the opposition to officiate merger of BRSLP with the CLP. But with the Supreme Court expected to rule on disqualification petitions, no MLA would even dare to switch over now, it is argued.

Moreover, political observers note that the Congress’ tactics are aimed not just at improving the numerical strength but at damaging the BRS ahead of upcoming local body elections. The ruling party, however, seems to have miscalculated – its credibility is plummeting due to unfulfilled poll promises, and its own MLAs are growing restless over stalled Cabinet expansion.

The Congress government, which has failed to bring tangible development or address pressing issues in the State, is now attempting to destabilise the opposition rather than proving its worth through governance. But with mounting discontent among both the public and its own ranks, the Congress may find that its plans to weaken BRS will ultimately backfire.

The Congress in Telangana, which decried poaching politics in other States, is now planning to employ the very tactics it previously criticised. With Cabinet expansion plans in limbo and internal dissent growing, the Congress’ backdoor dealings signal a party struggling to maintain control rather than one confident in its governance.