After Telangana defections, Revanth Reddy blames defections for Congress setbacks in Goa

Hyderabad: After being accused of encouraging the defection of 10 BRS MLAs in Telangana, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has criticised defections and blamed them for undermining the Congress’s electoral prospects in Goa.

“In 2017, the Congress faced defections in Goa, and the same issue was faced in 2022 as well. During the 2022 elections, I campaigned for a Youth Congress worker, and my people worked for him. After getting elected, he sold himself to the BJP,” Revanth Reddy said at a public meeting in Goa on Sunday.

His remarks come against the backdrop of the Telangana High Court disqualifying Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender for defecting to the Congress after winning the Assembly elections as a BRS candidate.

Interestingly, Revanth Reddy accused the BJP of encouraging defections. He argued that votes for smaller parties and independent candidates would ultimately benefit the BJP.

Invoking the symbolism of Lord Rama and Ravana, the Chief Minister portrayed the Congress as Lord Rama and the BJP as Ravana.

“If you want to defeat Ravana, stay with Rama. If you join any other next to him, it will benefit them (BJP). The BJP is breeding these snakes and offering milk to them,” Revanth Reddy said.

Claiming that South Goa had traditionally been a Congress stronghold, he said voters were increasingly turning towards smaller parties. 

“If you vote for these smaller parties or independents, it is like supporting the BJP,” Revanth Reddy said.