You can't crush BJP; people have a crush on us: Patra's swipe at Revanth Reddy

The BJP on Wednesday hit back at Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for mocking its national president Nitin Nabin, saying his remarks were objectionable and reflected arrogance. The party said the Congress leader's politics of sycophancy and arrogance would end with his party's defeat in the 2028 Telangana Assembly elections.

The response came after Reddy, speaking at an event in Hyderabad on Tuesday, dismissed Nabin's call to BJP workers to strive for victory in Telangana in 2028. Reddy said the BJP had made similar claims in West Bengal and that it took the party 15 years to form a government there.

"Recently, a guy came here, Nabin or whatever, I don't really know his name. But he comes here and says the next government is theirs," Reddy said. He added, "You said the same thing about West Bengal. It took you 15 years (to form a government) in Bengal. Your tricks might have worked there because Mamata Banerjee was at the helm. But here, all our guys are ready, and they will crush you."

BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra called the remarks "objectionable and condemnable" and said they showed Reddy's "arrogance" and the "culture of the Congress". He also alleged that the Congress and its leaders were committed to the "servitude of a single family".

Addressing Reddy, Patra said, "Revanth Reddy, you are the chief minister of a state in India. You are a member of Congress, a well-known party. Do you know who the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India's largest political party, is? If you do not know the president of the BJP, India's largest political party, then I feel you are not a competent political worker."

Patra added Reddy might have been joking or trying to be dismissive, but added that such a habit could have serious consequences. "Just recall the fate of those who have engaged in such mockery. Mamata Banerjee made a similar joke about Amit Shah," he said.

Referring to TMC leader Derek O'Brien, Patra added, "I remember how Mamata Banerjee's lieutenants, like Derek O'Brien, had mocked in the same manner, saying, 'Tell Narendra Modi to resign'." He then asked Reddy, "What was the outcome (of such comments)? Where does their party stand today?"

Patra also said, "Revanth Reddy ji, let me state this clearly without mincing words that you may try your best to crush the Bharatiya Janata Party, but the people of India have a crush on the BJP. You can't do anything," and added that people had done the 'khela' in Bengal and similar results would be seen in Telangana.

Another BJP spokesperson, Prem Shukla, called Reddy a "darbari and ahankari" leader of the Congress. "Revanth Reddy, perched atop the pinnacle of arrogance, should kindly open his eyes and see that Nitin Nabin is the national president of the BJP, the world's largest democratic party, which is in power in 22 states across India," he said.

Shukla said the Bharat Rashtra Samithi had also shown arrogance before its defeat in the 2023 Telangana polls. "The same arrogance has now taken hold of you (Revanth Reddy). Your arrogance, too, will last only for the next few months. Rest assured that the politics of sycophancy and arrogance will meet its downfall," he said.

He claimed the BJP would win the 2028 Telangana elections under Nabin's leadership and remove the Congress from power, adding, "Mark my words, Revanth Reddy, your sycophantic and arrogant brand of politics is not sustainable. Your days are numbered. You only have a few months left." BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also criticised Reddy, accusing him of having an "Emergency mindset".

"He (Revanth Reddy) is inspired, ironically, by Hitler. They (Congress) talk about a shop of love, but they are masters of abuse," Poonawalla said in a video statement, while also accusing him of using the "most vile language" against political rivals. BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said Nabin's three-day Telangana tour had given Reddy "sleepless nights" and that the chief minister's remarks showed "ignorance" and "arrogance".

The exchange followed Reddy's remarks on the BJP's prospects in Telangana and drew a sharp response from several BJP leaders, who said his comments about Nitin Nabin showed arrogance and would be answered in the 2028 state elections.

- Ends