Congress keeps BRS row alive as key issues wait in Assembly

BJP and BRS leaders questioned the suspension of BRS MLAs and accused the Congress government of avoiding key public issues in the Telangana Assembly. Ministers defended discussions on the BRS protest row, while opposition members demanded attention to pending matters

Hyderabad: Even after the suspension of BRS MLAs from the House for the remainder of the session on Wednesday, the Congress government appeared intent on keeping the BRS protest controversy alive in the Assembly. Several issues affecting people remained pending, with the treasury benches repeatedly interrupting the BJP during Wednesday’s proceedings.

BJP floor leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy questioned the unprecedented suspension of BRS legislators, pointing out that some of those suspended were not even present in the House. He asked under what rule absent members could be suspended and questioned whether a new “Revanth Reddy rule book” was being followed.

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Maheshwar Reddy said the BJP stood by the Speaker when a BRS MLC allegedly used abusive language against him, but objected to the government spending three days discussing the suspension of BRS legislators without taking up issues such as the 22-A prohibited list, fee reimbursement and pending benefits for retired employees, as per the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) decision. Frequent interruptions by Ministers led BJP members to rush into the well.

Speaker Gaddam Prasad said any fresh government business would be taken up only after issuing a supplementary agenda and informing members, in response to the BJP questioning the absence of a short discussion and other issues from the day’s agenda.

CPI MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao urged members to cooperate and suggested that the Speaker consider reviewing the suspension of BRS MLAs for the entire session and confine it to one day.

AIMIM MLA Ahmed Bin Abdul Balala also asked the Speaker to ensure that BAC decisions were honoured and members’ issues were taken up.

Even after Minister D Seethakka introduced the Panchayat Raj Amendment Bill, 2026, more than a dozen Congress MLAs, including Ministers who spoke in the Assembly on Wednesday, confined themselves to criticising the BRS and repeatedly referred to the Speaker as a Dalit in an attempt to portray the BRS as anti-Dalit.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka found fault with the BJP’s demand for discussing people’s issues, stating that what could be more important than discussing the BRS insulting Dalits. “This is a people’s issue. I request BJP members not to resort to such conduct,” he added.