KTR Visits Balka Suman in Jail, Condemns Arrests of BRS Leaders

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) on Tuesday accused the Congress government in Telangana of undermining democratic norms and misusing the police system to target opposition leaders in the aftermath of the recent municipal elections. He made the remarks after visiting former MLA Balka Suman and other detained party leaders at the Adilabad district jail.

KTR alleged that the arrests were politically motivated and intended to silence those who questioned irregularities during the municipal chairperson selection processes. Balka Suman was taken into custody following tensions and clashes linked to the Kyathanpalli municipal proceedings, a development that has intensified political confrontation between the ruling Congress and the BRS.

At the centre of the dispute is Kyathanpalli municipality in Mancherial district , where the BRS-CPI combine claims a clear majority in the council. According to KTR, BRS won 10 wards and CPI secured 4, giving the alliance numerical strength, while Congress won fewer seats. Despite this, he alleged attempts were made to secure control through pressure tactics and administrative influence rather than respecting the electoral mandate.

He further accused officials of acting under political direction and claimed that complaints of misconduct against women councillors were ignored. Referring to reported incidents involving public representatives in other towns, including the alleged mistreatment of a Dalit woman councillor, KTR said such actions damage democratic institutions and discourage grassroots participation in governance.

The tensions follow the Telangana urban local body elections , which witnessed strong voter participation and intense competition among major parties. In municipalities with closely divided councils, chairperson elections often become contentious, making procedural transparency and adherence to statutory norms crucial.

Demanding corrective action, KTR urged the State Election Commission to conduct fresh and transparent chairperson elections in Kyathanpalli, Ibrahimpatnam, and Khanapur under strict monitoring, including CCTV surveillance, to ensure fairness. He said the rightful winners must be allowed to assume office in accordance with democratic principles.

KTR expressed confidence that the courts would deliver justice to party leaders facing what he termed false cases, including MLA Kova Lakshmi . He also warned that those responsible for misuse of authority would be held accountable in the future.