TPCC accuses BRS MLAs Harish Rao, Kaushik Reddy of MCC violations, making ‘Hydrasura’ remark

Hyderabad: Political tensions reached a fever pitch in the high-stakes Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election as the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) lodged urgent complaints against two prominent Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders, MLAs Harish Rao and Padi Kaushik Reddy, for alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The complaints were filed with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) just hours before polling.

Alleged MCC breaches

Violation 1: Press meet during silence period

The TPCC filed a complaint on November 10, accusing BRS MLA Harish Rao of conducting a press meet outside the CEO’s office during the crucial 48-hour silence period leading up to the November 11 by-election.

The complaint states that Harish Rao used the press meet to make comments and deliver political criticism against the contesting parties. The Congress party asserted that this action constituted a ‘blatant violation’ of the MCC, which strictly prohibits campaigning, statements or publicity of any kind that could affect voter choice during the silence period.

Violation 2: ‘Hydrasura’ remark and derogatory depiction

In a separate, severe breach reported on November 10, the TPCC filed a complaint against BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy for an incident during a road show held on November 9, in the Yousufguda area of the Jubilee Hills constituency.

The complaint details two specific allegations:

A cut-out was displayed at the event depicting Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in a representation resembling ‘Narakasura’, which the TPCC argued denigrates a constitutional office and promotes hatred.

MLA Kaushik Reddy is alleged to have called the Chief Minister HYDRASura, a derogatory term intended to humiliate the CM and incite negative emotions.

Campaign context

The by-election, necessitated by the death of the sitting BRS MLA, is a prestige battle for all major parties. The ‘Hydrasura’ reference used by the BRS leader is a direct attack linking CM Revanth Reddy to the state government's demolition drive executed by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), a major point of political contention.

BRS leaders, including working president KT Rama Rao, have actively campaigned on a narrative pitting the BRS's Car symbol against the Congress government’s ‘bulldozer’ (referencing HYDRAA), urging voters to elect the BRS to stop the demolitions targeting citizens. The campaign has been highly acrimonious, marked by sharp personal attacks and communal overtones traded between the Congress, BRS and the BJP.