In a recent development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA-elect Raja Singh has declared a potential boycott of the oath-taking ceremony in the Telangana assembly. The controversy arises from the appointment of Akbaruddin Owaisi, a member of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), as the pro-tem Speaker for the upcoming legislative assembly session.
Raja Singh expressed strong opposition to Owaisi's appointment, stating in a video message that he and other BJP MLAs would not participate in the oath-taking event if Owaisi presides over the proceedings. Singh emphasized his reluctance to take the oath "as long as he is alive" in front of AIMIM, citing concerns over anti-Hindu comments allegedly made by Owaisi in the past.
This is not the first instance of such opposition from Raja Singh, as he recalled abstaining from taking the oath in 2018 when an AIMIM member served as the pro-tem Speaker.
Singh criticized the decision, attributing it to what he called the Congress party's true intentions becoming apparent after the formation of the government under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He alleged a potential understanding between the Congress, AIMIM, and BJP, calling for clarification on the relationship between the parties.
"We will not take oath in front of such a person... We will boycott," declared Raja Singh, adding that there are several senior MLAs who could have been considered for the pro-tem Speaker role.
In response, Telangana Congress spokesperson Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy clarified that the pro-tem Speaker appointment is a constitutional matter, and a senior MLA must be appointed to the post. He emphasized that this decision does not indicate an alignment with AIMIM and urged against polarizing communities for political survival.
As the political tension unfolds, the BJP announced that its newly elected MLAs would meet state party president G Kishan Reddy before offering prayers at the Goddess Bhagya Lakshmi temple at Charminar in Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, the AIMIM and its MLAs are set to hold a meeting at the party headquarters before the commencement of the assembly session, adding further intrigue to the unfolding political dynamics in Telangana.