MLA Poaching Case: TRS Cadres Asked Not To Talk To The Media

KTR, the TRS working president, asked party cadres not to speak to the media about the alleged attempt of the BJP to entice 4 MLAs with huge sums of money. As the investigation into the case is still in the preliminary stages, he advised party leaders not to speak to the media.

To lure 4 TRS MLAs to defect to the BJP, Cyberabad police arrested three persons from a farmhouse near Hyderabad on Wednesday night. A case has been filed against Ramachandra Bharati a.k.a. Satish Sharma of Delhi, Simhayaji Swamy of Tirupati, and Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad. They have been booked for criminal conspiracy, bribery, and intimidation under various sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

TRS leaders claim the accused are close to BJP leaders, including union ministers, and that the saffron party is conspiring to destabilize the TRS government. TRS leaders claim the accused are close to BJP leaders, including union ministers, and that the saffron party is conspiring to destabilize the TRS government.

Meanwhile, KTR has authorized a panel of 12 TRS leaders to participate on behalf of the party in debates on national television channels. He took the step as the party found that some leaders who were not even members of TRS were participating in the debate. The arrest of 3 persons has caused a tremor in state politics. While TRS has termed the attempt to buy its MLAs an attack on the self-respect of Telangana, BJP has alleged that it was a drama scripted by CM KCR to tarnish the party's image.

Accusing the state police of acting with bias, the BJP has also approached the Telangana High Court seeking a probe into the case by the CBI. Meanwhile, the 4 MLAs of TRS remained in Pragati Bhavan, the official residence of the CM, since Wednesday night.

CM and TRS president KCR is discussing the party's strategy with ministers KTR and Harish Rao. There have been speculations throughout the day that KCR will address a press conference along with the 4 MLAs to place all details of the alleged attempt by the BJP to buy the legislators. He was also expected to announce the future course of action. However, no press conference was convened.