The appointment of AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi as the pro-tem Speaker of the Third Legislative Assembly of Telangana has triggered a potential showdown with the BJP.
T. Raja Singh, the BJP’s MLA-elect from Goshamahal, declared on Friday that none of the eight winning BJP candidates, including himself, would take the oath as members of the House if it was administered by Owaisi.
In a statement, Raja Singh accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of attempting to appease the minority community and the MIM by choosing Owaisi as pro-tem Speaker, pointing out that there were several seniors from other parties who could have been selected for the responsibility.
This move by Owaisi echoes a similar incident in 2018 when Raja Singh refused to take the oath when MIM Charminar MLA Mumtaz Ahmed Khan was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker.
Raja Singh emphatically stated, "As long as I am alive, I will never take the oath before the MIM, Akbaruddin Owaisi, and a descendant of Razakar leader Kasim Razvi."
He added that under no circumstances would any other winners from the BJP take the oath on Saturday, declaring, "We will take the oath after a full-time Speaker is appointed."
Additionally, Raja Singh called on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to clarify the Congress-MIM relationship, especially after claiming during the election campaign that the BRS, MIM, and the BJP were working together.
He warned, "Today it is time for Revanth Reddy to explain the Congress and MIM ties. He is making a big mistake. The BRS suffered after handing over the steering to MIM, and we will not give up until a BJP government is formed in Telangana."
