Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Wednesday, 23 September called on the Supreme Court of India to take suo motu cognisance of the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), warning that the constitutional poll body is facing a 'severe crisis of confidence.' The demand was made at a press conference in Hyderabad.

KTR's Core Demand

The BRS leader argued that only the Supreme Court holds the credibility and independence to conduct an impartial inquiry into the ECI's conduct. He cited remarks by former Election Commissioners as evidence of a deepening institutional concern that cannot be left unaddressed.

'ECI is a constitutional body. We cannot believe any other agency to investigate other than the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court needs to take cognisance of what former Election Commissioners are saying and launch a suo motu inquiry into the matter. Hopefully, some answers will come out, and the truth will prevail,' said KTR.

Background: BRS Representations to the ECI

Rama Rao recalled that he had earlier led a party delegation to New Delhi to meet with three Election Commissioners, raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Similar apprehensions, he said, were formally submitted during the Bihar elections, where the BRS pressed the poll body to address rumours, clarify procedural ambiguities, and ensure complete transparency. Despite those representations, he noted, serious doubts about the ECI's impartiality continue to persist — warranting, in his view, a top-court-monitored inquiry to restore public trust.

Attack on Telangana's Congress Government Over Power Cuts

Separately, KTR launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Telangana over power cuts, alleging a return to pre-Telangana-era conditions. He claimed that during the BRS government's tenure, power generation capacity was raised from 7,778 MW to 20,000 MW, with investments of ₹1 lakh crore in the power sector.

He dismissed Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti's attribution of the power shortage to the El Niño effect, saying: 'This is not El Nino, but El Congo.' The BRS leader alleged that substandard coal is being supplied to the power generation corporation, resulting in generation halts at five power stations for over a week.

BRS Protest Announced

Rama Rao demanded 24-hour uninterrupted power supply to farmers to protect standing crops, and announced that the BRS will launch a formal protest over the ongoing power cuts. The twin-pronged offensive — targeting both the Election Commission and the state government — signals that the party is sharpening its political strategy ahead of any future electoral contest in Telangana.