Congress, the BRS and AIMIM condemn the Union minister’s statement
Team Clarion
HYDERABAD — Union Minister of State (Home) and senior BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday stirred a controversy with his recent remark targeting the Congress party. “If India is to win, one should vote for BJP. and if Pakistan is to win, one should vote for those implied to be against India’s interests,” he said.
The BJP leader’s remark obliquely referred to the result of Indo-Pak cricket match in Dubai during the Champions Trophy held a day earlier in which India beat Pakistan with a huge margin.
Bandi Sanjay was addressing a gathering in the run-up to the upcoming MLC elections. He emphasised that the BJP is the only party capable of leading India toward progress and strengthening its global standing. “If you want development, security, and a strong nation, there is no alternative to BJP,” he said.
The opposition was quick to react, with leaders from the Indian National Congress (INC), the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the All India Majlis-e Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) condemning the statement.
BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao also weighed in, calling the statement “arrogant and misleading.” He added, “No single party has a monopoly on patriotism. People will decide whom they trust based on governance, not rhetoric.”
Political analysts suggest that Bandi Sanjay’s remark is part of the BJP’s larger election strategy. “The BJP often uses nationalism as a key electoral narrative,” said Prof Sudhir Verma, a political science expert. “By equating India’s success with the BJP’s victory, they are attempting to consolidate their voter base and project themselves as the sole custodians of national interest.”
However, some experts believe the statement could backfire. “Such remarks can alienate undecided voters who may see this as an attempt to undermine democracy and pluralism,” said Dr. Anjali Mehta, a political commentator.
Amid the controversy, the BJP has defended Bandi Sanjay’s remark, calling it a statement of confidence rather than a dismissal of democracy.
With elections approaching, such statements are likely to play a crucial role in shaping public opinion. While BJP supporters view the remark as a call for nationalistic unity, critics argue that it reflects an overreach of political rhetoric.
As the political atmosphere heats up, the final verdict will be given by the voters at the ballot box. Whether Bandi Sanjay’s remark strengthens BJP’s position or creates a political backlash remains to be seen.
