*September 26, 2024 – Hyderabad*Senior Congress leader Kadiam Srihari has thrown down the gauntlet, declaring that the Congress party is fully prepared for any by-elections and predicting that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will struggle to even retain their deposits if elections are held. Srihari’s sharp remarks came during a press briefing where he strongly criticized the BRS party for encouraging defections and fostering corruption.Srihari alleged that the BRS has a notorious history of merging legislative parties to bolster its political strength and silence opposition voices. *”The BRS party has actively encouraged defection, merging opposition legislators into their fold to maintain power,”* he said. He also accused the ruling party of deep-rooted corruption, branding BRS as *”a nickname for corruption and irregularities.”*Srihari emphasized that Congress respects the judicial process, taking a veiled dig at the BRS for what he described as an arrogant attitude toward legal matters. *”We have respect for the courts and the judiciary, and we believe in upholding the rule of law,”* he remarked.With political tensions running high in Telangana, Srihari’s statements have further intensified the atmosphere ahead of potential by-elections. The Congress party’s confidence is clear as they gear up for an electoral challenge, while the BRS now faces mounting criticism from its rivals.