Rahul Gandhi Must Focus on Opposition Duties, Says BJP MP Raghunandan Rao

BJP MP Raghunandan Rao on Sunday urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to understand his responsibilities as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticising the INDIA bloc’s proposed protest in New Delhi on November 1.

Rao questioned the purpose of the demonstration scheduled to be held at Ramlila Maidan and alleged that the opposition alliance lacked a clear plan on the issues facing the country. Instead of taking to the streets and organising protests, he said, Rahul Gandhi should focus on his constitutional role and provide constructive direction to the opposition. He also called on those advising Gandhi to offer him proper guidance.

Turning his attention to Telangana, Rao demanded that the Congress government led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy address public concerns over electricity supply, pensions and employment opportunities for unemployed youth.

He said people in the state were seeking reliable 24-hour power supply, a monthly pension of Rs 4,000 and jobs, rather than being preoccupied with allegations surrounding the deletion of voters’ names from electoral rolls. The government should explain its position on these issues and account for the promises made to the public, he said.

Rao also questioned the rationale behind the INDIA bloc’s planned protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He challenged Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy to disclose how many people had lost their voting rights because of the exercise.

The BJP MP specifically sought details of alleged voter deletions in Kondareddypalli, Revanth Reddy’s native village, and the Madhira Assembly constituency. He called on the two leaders to provide figures to support their concerns over the revision process.

Rao maintained that the Telangana government should prioritise the state’s immediate needs before participating in political demonstrations at the national level. Without a clear action plan and accountability for electoral promises, he argued, the administration risked failing both the people of Telangana and the wider public interest.

He reiterated that the state government must respond to citizens’ concerns and explain the progress made in implementing its commitments rather than allowing political disputes to overshadow everyday issues.