A recent political storm in Telangana, sparked by an alleged controversial remark from Backward Classes (BC) Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar directed at Tribal Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar, has officially concluded. Minister Prabhakar has offered his apologies, asserting that his original statement was misconstrued. He also confirmed that the disagreement has been fully resolved thanks to the timely intervention of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief B. Mahesh Kumar Goud and other prominent party figures.
Image: Telangana’s Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Tribal Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar, seen with Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud and other leaders on Wednesday, October 7, 2025. This photo was taken at Mr. Goud’s residence, illustrating the recent efforts to resolve their differences.
Evidence of the reconciliation was seen on Wednesday, October 7, 2025, when both ministers were observed sharing breakfast at the State Congress Chief’s residence, alongside other party members. This public display of unity signaled the end of their recent spat.
The root of the controversy stemmed from an alleged derogatory remark made by Minister Prabhakar towards Minister Laxman Kumar, reportedly referring to him as a ‘buffalo’. This incident occurred just before a press conference related to the campaigning for the Jubilee Hills byelections on Sunday, October 5, 2025, quickly escalating into a public dispute.
Following the offensive remark, the SC Welfare Minister had publicly demanded an apology, indicating his intent to escalate the matter to the top brass of the Congress party, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, among other senior leaders.
On Wednesday morning, Minister Prabhakar clarified his position, stating that his original comments were deliberately twisted and presented out of context by individuals with “malicious political intentions.” He conveyed his profound regret that this misrepresentation caused distress to Minister Laxman Kumar.
Video: A statement from Backward Classes (BC) Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar was released on Wednesday, October 7, 2025, providing further details on the resolution.
Following the pivotal meeting at the Telangana Congress chief’s residence, Minister Prabhakar released a subsequent statement. In it, he reiterated that while he never uttered the alleged offensive remarks, he recognized that the circulating news reports had deeply hurt Mr. Laxman Kumar. “I apologize for it,” Minister Prabhakar formally stated, expressing remorse for the pain caused by the misunderstanding.
Emphasizing party unity and shared goals, the BC Welfare Minister affirmed their commitment to working tirelessly for social justice, public welfare, and upholding the principles of the Congress party, all under the guidance of Mr. Rahul Gandhi. He affectionately referred to Mr. Laxman Kumar as a brother, highlighting their three-decade-long association within the Congress, a bond he stressed transcends mere politics and is built on enduring mutual respect.
The meeting at the State Congress Chief’s residence was attended by several key figures, including Sports Minister Vakati Srihari and MLAs Makkan Singh Raj Thakur and Kavvampally Satyanarayana, among others, underscoring the collective effort to bring about this resolution.