Adluri’s outburst against Prabhakar exposes rift within Congress cabinet

A public spat between SC Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has exposed fault lines within the Telangana Congress cabinet, with speculation of internal factions unhappy with Prabhakar’s rising influence and direct Delhi connections

Hyderabad: The sudden outburst of SC Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar against BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has triggered speculation about growing fault lines within the State cabinet. The episode, many believe, reflects internal factions unhappy with Prabhakar’s increasing influence and access to the party high command in Delhi.

The row began after Prabhakar allegedly made derogatory remarks against Laxman Kumar during a programme on Sunday. Though Prabhakar later claimed his comments were twisted by the BRS social media team, several Dalit organisations reacted sharply, circulating videos purportedly showing his statements clearly audible, apparently made without realising that the microphone was still on.

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As the controversy escalated, a video of Laxman Kumar surfaced on Monday in which he demanded an apology from Prabhakar and criticised Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy for attempting to downplay the issue. The developments have left many within political circles questioning the unity in the cabinet.

It is widely known that both Prabhakar and Vivek Venkatswamy maintain direct communication channels with the party high command in Delhi, bypassing the State unit. Prabhakar, who also serves as the in-charge Minister for Hyderabad, is seen as holding a strategically significant position. Party insiders in Gandhi Bhavan speculate that a powerful leader, uncomfortable with Prabhakar’s clout, may have quietly encouraged Laxman Kumar to respond publicly and demand an apology.

Given Prabhakar’s seniority over Laxman Kumar in the party, such matters are typically discussed behind closed doors in Gandhi Bhavan and not aired publicly. Laxman Kumar’s video, however, has almost confirmed perceptions of a simmering power struggle among senior Congress Ministers, starting right from the top, in Telangana.