The Telangana Assembly monsoon session commenced on September 7, 2026, amid unprecedented chaos as BRS legislators staged a dramatic protest wearing black T-shirts emblazoned with slogans criticizing the Congress government’s performance. The protest marked 1,000 days of Congress rule in the state, with opposition members alleging that the ruling party failed to fulfill electoral promises. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) and senior leader T. Harish Rao led the demonstration, wearing shirts with messages such as “Congress failed to deliver promises in 1000 Days” and “1,000 days of rule are a failure.” The BRS claimed that Congress had made 420 promises for implementation within the first 100 days of governance but failed to deliver on them.
The protest escalated into physical confrontations when police personnel stopped the BRS legislators at the Assembly gates, citing that political slogans on clothing were not permitted inside the legislative premises. The situation quickly deteriorated with jostling, heated arguments, and scuffles breaking out between police and opposition members. Several BRS MLAs, including KTR and Harish Rao, were detained and transported to local police stations or Telangana Bhavan. In a dramatic gesture, Harish Rao removed his T-shirt and demanded entry wearing only a vest. The commotion caused significant traffic disruption for approximately 30 to 40 minutes in the area surrounding the Assembly.
The physical altercation resulted in minor injuries to several BRS leaders. KTR, former minister G. Jagadish Reddy, and MLA V. Sunitha Laxma Reddy reportedly sustained injuries during the scuffle. The BRS strongly condemned what they termed as police high-handedness, with particular emphasis on allegations that women legislators were manhandled. Sunitha Laxma Reddy claimed her feet were trampled during the incident. Police authorities defended their actions, stating they were following the Speaker’s instructions and clarified that their objection was specifically to the wording on the T-shirts, not the black color itself.
KTR drew comparisons to Rahul Gandhi being permitted to wear black shirts in Parliament and accused the Congress party of coming to power through “reckless and false promises.” The BRS leadership announced plans for statewide protests against the police action and the alleged suppression of democratic expression. The party maintained that their protest was a legitimate democratic exercise to highlight the government’s failure to implement promised welfare schemes and development projects that were central to Congress’s election campaign.
Inside the Assembly chamber, proceedings were disrupted shortly after commencement, leading to an adjournment of approximately 15 minutes. BJP MLAs demanded a judicial probe by a sitting judge into lands and properties placed under the prohibited list under Section 22-A of the Registration Act. The BJP legislators raised slogans, displayed placards, and moved toward the well of the House in protest. While the government offered a short discussion on the matter, the Speaker was forced to adjourn the session amid the uproar. The scheduled Question Hour could not proceed as planned due to the continuing disturbances.
BRS leader K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) was notably absent from the session. The monsoon session is expected to witness intense debates on multiple contentious issues including welfare schemes, irrigation projects, and the Congress government’s performance over its 1,000-day tenure. Opposition parties have indicated they will continue to press the government on unfulfilled electoral promises and the controversial land registration issues. Police authorities maintained that they acted within their mandate to ensure order at the legislative premises while preventing political demonstrations that violated Assembly protocols.
