Ponnam Prabhakar Demands BJP Explain Work in Telangana Before Asking for Votes

On Wednesday, Telangana BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a press briefing in Hyderabad. Prabhakar accused the BJP of discriminating against Telangana and doing injustice to the state, demanding that the party explain what it has achieved for the region during its 12 years in power at the Centre before asking the public for votes.

The Minister specifically targeted Nitin Nabin, whom he referred to as the BJP national president. Prabhakar stated that Nabin should first explain the BJP's contributions to Telangana before trying to win elections in the state. He expressed disappointment that the central government, despite its long tenure, has limited its role to criticizing the Congress-led state government while neglecting Telangana's development.

Addressing Nabin's visit, Prabhakar remarked that he is leaving the matter to the leader's political wisdom. He suggested that when the BJP national president visits, he should protect his own dignity. Prabhakar pointed out that if criticizing the Telangana state government is the BJP's only objective, they are ignoring the numerous assurances that the central government itself has previously given to the state.

Prabhakar also questioned the BJP's actual strength and political representation at the grassroots level in Telangana. He challenged BJP leaders to count how many of their corporators and sarpanches have successfully won in the local body elections across the state, implying that the party lacks a strong local foundation.

In addition to targeting the BJP, the Minister leveled allegations against the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Prabhakar claimed that the BRS had sacrificed its interests and surrendered to the BJP in a political game, which ultimately ensured the victory of BJP Members of Parliament (MPs) in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Concluding his statements, Prabhakar asserted that the BJP has nothing on the ground in Telangana. He advised the BJP leaders to speak in accordance with their actual political position in the state rather than making unfounded criticisms against the local administration.