Hyderabad, Sept. 16 -- BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) declared that by-elections in Telangana are "unavoidable" and predicted a resounding defeat for the ruling Congress, even as he targeted Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy over unanswered questions surrounding Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on his residence last year.

Speaking at a meeting of Bhadrachalam constituency leaders and activists held at Telangana Bhavan, KTR said defections from BRS to Congress had exposed the weakness of the ruling party rather than strengthening it.

"If Congress has the courage, let them declare openly that these MLAs joined their party and face by-elections. They are running scared of every election, from panchayat polls to by-elections. But...