‘Objectionable, inflammatory’: Telangana BJP files complaint with EC after CM Revanth Reddy’s Op Sindoor remarks

The complaint submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana accused Reddy of demeaning the “valour and sacrifice of our soldiers”, and “demoralize the nation for political gain”.

Reddy allegedly made these comments during the launch of a campaign supporting party candidate V Naveen Yadav for the Jubilee Hills Assembly bypoll on Friday.

“The entire nation takes immense pride in the courage and success of our armed forces during Operation Sindoor and other counter-terror operations, which were globally acknowledged and praised for their precision and strength,” it stated.

The BJP leaders who filed the complaint included party’s state Vice-President Kasam Venkateswarlu, state general secretary N Goutham Rao, and senior leader S Prakash Reddy.

‘Unparliamentary… direct violation of MCC’

The party also accused the CM of adopting a “carpet bombing” strategy in the Jubilee Hills constituency, where bypoll has been necessitated by the death of Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year.

“He has also called the Union Ministers from Telangana “shameless.” These comments are unparliamentary, defamatory, and intended to provoke animosity amongst the voters of the constituency and the public in general,” the complaint stated.

Reddy has also been accused to threatening and blackmailing the voters of the constituency, after he allegedly stated that if they did not register their votes for the Congress Party, “he would ensure that several welfare schemes” such as Sanna Biyyam (fine rice), 200 units of free electricity, issuance of ration cards, and free bus travel for women, “would be withdrawn”.

The BJP has called his statement out as a “direct violation” of the Model Code of Conduct and Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines. “It amounts to blackmail, coercion, intimidation, and undue influence over voters,” the party’s complaint read.

“Such statements are not only detrimental to the dignity of public discourse but are also intended to create unrest and fear among the electorate, thereby vitiating the atmosphere of free and fair elections,” the complaint added.

Oppn party leaders condemn CM Reddy’s statements

Leaders from other parties condemned Reddy’s statements, with BRS Working President KT Rama Rao accusing him of “threat politics,” news agency ANI reported.

“This is not a Telangana that gets scared of your threats,” KTR declared, in response to the CM’s warnings to voters. “If you try to cancel welfare schemes, the same people of Jubilee Hills will bring down your government. Telangana has seen many dictators rise and fall. You will be no different,” he said.

The BRS leader alleged that the Congress government had failed to deliver on all its promises. “They said they would give Rs 4,000 pensions for women and the elderly, scooties for girls, and Rs 2,500 for youth. Not one promise has been fulfilled,” KTR said. Towards the end of his speech at a roadshow in Rahmath Nagar Division under the Jubilee Hills constituency, he said, “Telangana once taught lessons to dictators, and now it will teach one to Revanth Reddy,” ANI quoted.

Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao also slammed Reddy’s remarks over X, alleging the the narratives of the Congress party and Pakistan sounded the same.

Congress 🤝 Pakistan

When Chief Minister Revanth Reddy insults India saying “Pakistan kicked us and we didn’t retaliate,”

When Congress MP Imran Masood mocks our Army saying “the world laughed at our Surgical Strike,”

And when Sam Pitroda proudly declares “I feel at home in… pic.twitter.com/yMLHVw17ZO

— N Ramchander Rao (@N_RamchanderRao) October 31, 2025

The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar also condemned the “below-the-belt” remarks, and demanded an apology from the CM to the people of India and the soldiers who were a part of Operation Sindoor.

Over a post on X, Kumar wrote: “Strongly condemn Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s below-the-belt remark on India. He stooped so low, using derogatory language to say that Pakistan kicked us, and India didn’t retaliate. It’s an insult to the armed forces who courageously destroyed terror camps in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. In India, every street echoes with pride for our soldiers’ courage.”

Strongly condemn Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s below-the-belt remark on India.

He stooped so low, using derogatory language to say that Pakistan kicked us and India didn’t retaliate

It’s an insult to the armed forces who courageously destroyed terror camps in Pakistan during… pic.twitter.com/3mZhr8sdls

— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) October 31, 2025

“Across the world, Operation Sindoor is being hailed – a symbol of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s decisive strike against terrorism. Chief Minister must unconditionally apologise to the people of India – and to the brave soldiers who risked their lives for our nation,” he added in his post.

The high-stakes bypoll to Telangana’s Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency would take place on November 11, and votes will be counted on November 14.