In a sensational claim, Bharatiya Janata Party MP C M Ramesh (Anakapalli) alleged on Saturday that Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K T Rama Rao (KTR) had privately sought a merger of his party with the BJP last year.
Addressing reporters in Anakapalli, Ramesh said KTR visited his residence on Talkatora Road in New Delhi when KTR’s sister — BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha — was jailed in connection with the Delhi liquor‑policy case.
“KTR asked me to convey to the BJP high command that the BRS would merge with the BJP if the cases against Kavitha and others were dropped. Has he forgotten that meeting?” Ramesh stated.
The MP added that he is prepared to release CCTV footage of KTR’s visit to corroborate his claim. According to Ramesh, the BJP leadership rejected the proposal because it “did not want to entertain a party steeped in corruption.”
Ramesh’s remarks come shortly after Kavitha herself alleged that BRS leaders had once explored merging the party with the BJP — an effort she said she opposed.
The Anakapalli MP also suggested that KTR fears a potential BJP–TDP alliance in the upcoming Telangana elections.
“Why is KTR so troubled if the BJP and TDP contest together?” he asked.
Refuting KTR’s purported comments that “Reddys back Revanth in Telangana while Kammas support Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh,” Ramesh called the statement “false and divisive.”
He also challenged KTR to a public debate, dismissing allegations that Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy awarded him contracts worth ₹1,650 crore on a nomination basis.
Ramesh pointed out that projects promoted by him received contracts worth ₹2,000 crore during BRS rule, asking, “Were those also given on nomination?”
Accusing KTR of launching a “political vendetta” against Revanth Reddy, Ramesh likened alleged corruption within KTR’s circle to that of Andhra Pradesh former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration.
He concluded that KTR is “fabricating charges to divert public attention.”
