HYDERABAD: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), now navigating life as the principal opposition party in Telangana after its dramatic fall from power earlier this year, has filed a formal breach of privilege notice against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in the State Assembly.
The move comes amid intensifying political friction between the ruling Congress-JMM alliance government and the BRS, led by former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), who has been working to rebuild his party's fortunes since losing the June 2026 assembly elections.
According to sources familiar with the development, the breach of privilege notice cites allegations that the Chief Minister made statements in the legislature that "contemned the authority and privileges of the House" and brought the institution into disrepute. The specific remarks under challenge are said to have been made during the ongoing budget session, though the BRS has not yet disclosed the exact words it finds objectionable.
The notice was reportedly moved by senior BRS MLA Vinod Kumar Reddy, who cited multiple instances where he claimed the CM had undermined the dignity of the Opposition during Question Hour and subsequent debates. The BRS also alleged that procedural irregularities were employed to sideline opposition questions and restrict discussion time.
Under Article 195 of the Indian Constitution and the Telangana Assembly Rules, a breach of privilege occurs when any act or omission is considered to interfere with the legitimate exercise of the House's powers or its members' rights. If admitted, the notice typically leads to a discussion in the Assembly, after which the Speaker decides on appropriate action, which can range from a reprimand to suspension.
Congress spokespersons have dismissed the move as a "distraction tactic," arguing that the BRS is attempting to divert attention from governance issues and the party's declining electoral base. They pointed out that the ruling coalition holds a comfortable majority and that the opposition's attempts to disrupt proceedings have been consistently overruled by the Speaker.
Political analysts note that breach of privilege notices are increasingly being used as political weapons in Indian legislatures, with both ruling and opposition parties deploying them strategically rather than purely on constitutional grounds. The last such notice in Telangana was filed during the previous BRS government's term in 2023.
The Assembly Speaker is expected to take up the matter at the next sitting, where the BRS will present its case in detail. Legal experts suggest that unless the CM's remarks directly violate established parliamentary conventions, the notice may be rejected or resulted in a mild censure rather than any substantive penalty.
