Hyderabad, Sep 2026 : High drama unfolded outside the Telangana Assembly on Monday as Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislators protesting against the state government’s alleged failure to fulfil its election promises clashed with police on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. Several senior BRS leaders, including K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao, were detained during the confrontation.
BRS MLAs and MLCs had arrived at the Assembly wearing black T-shirts carrying slogans highlighting what the party described as the government’s unfulfilled promises. Police stopped the legislators at the main entrance and informed them that they did not have permission to enter the Assembly premises wearing T-shirts.
The move triggered a heated exchange between the legislators and police personnel, which soon escalated into a scuffle. BRS leaders alleged that police used excessive force while preventing their entry into the Assembly.
According to the Opposition party, K.T. Rama Rao, former minister Jagadish Reddy and MLA Sunitha Reddy sustained minor injuries during the police action. Harish Rao, the BRS Deputy Leader in the Assembly, reportedly fell during the scuffle.
Sunitha Reddy broke down while describing the incident and alleged that police personnel handled her roughly, tore her saree and humiliated her. The BRS also alleged that former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy was manhandled and that police personnel pulled her hair during the confrontation.
The situation intensified amid the commotion when Jagadish Reddy reportedly fell unconscious. Meanwhile, K.T. Rama Rao and Harish Rao removed their black T-shirts and continued their protest wearing vests.
Police personnel subsequently physically lifted several protesting legislators and took them away from the Assembly entrance. The BRS criticised the police action as “undemocratic” and accused the state government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of attempting to suppress the Opposition.
BRS leaders alleged that the government was resorting to arrests and physical force because it was unwilling to face questions over its performance and election commitments. The party also alleged that police behaved rudely with K.T. Rama Rao and forcibly pushed him into a vehicle during his detention.
Inside the Assembly gate, BRS MLAs including Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Sabitha Indra Reddy, Sunitha Reddy, Kova Lakshmi and Madhavaram Krishna Rao staged a sit-in protest against what they described as high-handed behaviour by the police towards their colleagues.
Reacting to the action, K.T. Rama Rao questioned why BRS legislators were prevented from wearing black T-shirts as a form of protest. He referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wearing a black T-shirt in Parliament during a protest and asked why similar forms of protest were being restricted in the Telangana Assembly.
Rama Rao said the legislators were only seeking accountability from the state government over promises made during the 2023 Assembly elections. He accused the government of failing to fulfil its commitments to different sections of society.
Before reaching the Assembly, BRS legislators had gathered at the Telangana Martyrs’ Memorial at Gun Park, where they staged a protest and later marched towards the legislature complex.
Addressing the gathering, K.T. Rama Rao alleged that the government had betrayed the people of Telangana by failing to implement its electoral commitments. He claimed that the government had not fulfilled any of the 420 promises, six guarantees and 13 declarations made during the election campaign.
Following their detention, K.T. Rama Rao, Harish Rao and other senior BRS leaders reached the party headquarters. The BRS subsequently called for statewide protests against the government’s decision to stop its legislators from entering the Assembly in black T-shirts.
The confrontation has set the tone for a potentially contentious Monsoon Session, with the BRS expected to intensify its attack on the Revanth Reddy government over its election promises and governance record. The ruling side, meanwhile, is likely to face sustained Opposition pressure both inside and outside the legislature during the session.
