Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for prioritizing All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi over Lord Rama, labeling him the party’s “lifeline” for securing votes.
BJP’s Reliance on Owaisi Narrative
During a press conference on Monday, Reddy highlighted the BJP’s pattern of portraying Owaisi as a villain to rally support. He questioned the party’s inability to counter Owaisi’s influence despite holding power at various levels.
“This reflects the Bharatiya Janata Party’s history,” Reddy stated. “Analyze it closely: for them, Asaduddin Owaisi is the only god. They mention Lord Rama casually, but bow to Owaisi daily. Their lifeline is Asaduddin Owaisi. Examine how often they invoke Rama without Owaisi versus how frequently they name Owaisi.”
Reddy further remarked, “They transform Asaduddin Owaisi into an ‘Aladdin’s magic lamp’ to seek votes. With governments under your control, why can’t you rein in this supposed villain?”
Critique of Provocative Tactics
Reddy condemned the BJP’s strategy of stoking religious sentiments and depicting AIMIM leaders as demons to gain electoral advantage, describing it as the “height of ideological poverty.”
“AIMIM is a legitimate political party that contests elections,” he noted. “They win where they succeed and lose where they don’t—like in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and even West Bengal, where they secured five seats. How long will you demonize them as ghosts to survive politically?”
He urged voters in Telangana to reflect on these tactics ahead of upcoming elections: “Provoking religious hatred and labeling opponents as demons reveals deep ideological weakness. Voters must consider whether to support the BJP.”
