Overview

• SC Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman alleges BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar called him a “buffalo” during a Jubilee Hills bypoll event in Rahmath Nagar after he arrived late.
• Ponnam denies making a casteist remark, saying his words were distorted and related to travel logistics rather than to Laxman or his community.
• Laxman demanded a public apology and warned of consequences if it is not issued, while also criticizing Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy for what he called a dismissive response.
• TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud spoke with both ministers and urged cooperation, with one report saying the issue was amicably settled following his intervention.
• Laxman has written to AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, raised the matter with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, and says he plans to meet Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as SC–Madiga representatives seek an apology.