BRS slams govt over removal of Harish Rao birthday flexis

Today is Harish Rao’s birthday. The senior leader is celebrating it with much fanfare. But BRS leaders are angry with the government.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has launched a sharp attack on the Congress-led Telangana government, accusing it of orchestrating the overnight removal of birthday banners and flexis commemorating senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao’s 53rd birthday from Telangana Bhavan, the party’s headquarters in Hyderabad.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of June 3, has sparked strong condemnation from BRS leaders and supporters. They claim that the removal of the banners was politically motivated and reflects the ruling party’s “insecurity” over Harish Rao’s rising popularity and the BRS’s enduring grassroots support.

Govt’s insecurity?

 “The Congress is now afraid of flexis that carry Harish Rao’s name,” BRS leaders said. “The Revanth Reddy government is rattled by Harish Rao’s popularity. Tearing down harmless birthday banners in the dead of night reveals just how desperate they are to stifle our voice.”

The BRS alleged selective enforcement, pointing out that Congress party banners continue to adorn the city unchecked, while opposition displays are swiftly removed—suggesting municipal officials and law enforcement are acting as “agents” of the ruling party.

This isn’t the first such incident. In August 2024, birthday banners at Harish Rao’s camp office in Siddipet were similarly taken down, leading to the detention of four individuals and a police case.

The BRS at the time accused the Congress of systematically targeting Harish Rao to undercut his growing political stature.

Political analysts view the latest move as part of a broader strategy by the Congress to suppress one of its most vocal critics. Harish Rao, a six-time MLA from Siddipet and former Finance and Health Minister, has relentlessly attacked the government on issues such as farm loan waivers, Rythu Bharosa delays, and economic mismanagement. His interventions in the Telangana Assembly—particularly his dissection of the state’s financial health—have repeatedly put the Congress on the defensive.

As the political rivalry between the BRS and Congress intensifies, the flexi incident has become a new flashpoint, symbolizing the high-stakes battle for Telangana’s political narrative.