We openly welcome TRS MLAs into BJP, don't need deal makers: Kishan Reddy

HYDERABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a national party and thousands of people meet its party leaders and workers every day but that does not mean the BJP negotiates deals and offers money to join the party, said Union Minister Kishan Reddy on Friday, in response to the explosive leaked audio of a phone call between Rohith Reddy and Ramchandra Bharti.

Kishan Reddy stated, "We are not afraid to openly welcome honest and hardworking TRS MLAs into the BJP and we do not require any Swamiji to mediate such deals. If TRS MLAs wish to join the BJP, we will gladly accept them. Anyone who wants to join is welcome to come and meet me."

In response to accusations of monetary offers of Rs 100 crores and safe shield to TRS MLAs from cases of Enforcement Directorate (ED), Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) and Crime Investigation Department (CID), if they join the BJP, The Union Minister from Telangana said, "The BJP does not require MLAs who have come under ED, CID or ACB investigations. We don't know who that Swamiji is; neither is he affiliated with any of the ED, CID or ACB".

The minister also claimed that the BJP had a party joinings committee that handles those who wish to enter the party in a fair and proper manner. The party has a rule that, any MLA who wants to join, must resign from their previous position and party and face an election, he added.

He reiterated that the BJP had not given any mandate to anyone other than MLA Etala Rajender, the party joinings committee chairman, and BJP state president Bandi Sanjay. The party is not in a hurry and is willing to wait until 2023 to come to power in Telangana, he said, adding, "We are also not interested in destabilising the TRS government."

Kishan Reddy claimed that the leaked audio, videos and claims of hefty bribes were fabricated by the TRS party to divert people's attention from the Munugode elections.