In a surprising turn of events, the appointment of AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi as the pro-tem Speaker for the Third Legislative Assembly of Telangana has sparked tension 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 if administered by Owaisi.
Singh accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of attempting to appease the minority community and the MIM by selecting Owaisi as the pro-tem Speaker. Singh questioned the decision, pointing out that there were several senior members from other parties who could have been chosen for the responsibility.
This is not the first time Raja Singh has taken such a stance. After the 2018 elections, he refused to take the oath when MIM Charminar MLA Mumtaz Ahmed Khan was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker.
In a bold statement, Raja Singh declared, “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 emphasized that none of the BJP winners would take the oath on Saturday, insisting that they would wait until a full-time Speaker is appointed.
Raja Singh also called on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to explain the nature of the Congress-MIM relationship, especially after the BJP’s claims during the election campaign that the BRS, MIM, and the BJP were working together. Singh criticized the decision to align with the MIM and expressed determination to continue the fight until a BJP government is formed in Telangana.
The standoff raises questions about the BJP’s options for the oath if its MLAs are unwilling to take it from Akbaruddin Owaisi. The situation adds a layer of complexity to the political landscape in Telangana and sets the stage for a potential confrontation between the AIMIM and the BJP in the coming days.
