Campaigning for the Jubilee Hills bypoll in Hyderabad turned tense after BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar allegedly insulted his cabinet colleague, SC Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman, calling him a “buffalo” and claiming he “has no value for life” over Laxman’s delayed arrival at an election event in Rahmath Nagar.

In response, Laxman released a six-minute video expressing his hurt, demanding a formal apology, and questioning how a minister could publicly demean a colleague from a marginalised community. He stated, “As Laxman Kumar, he can abuse me, but abusing my caste is not correct. I am from the **Madiga caste (SC); that is why I was made a Minister. If there is no change and such remarks continue, I will not be responsible for the consequences. A complaint will be sent from my caste representatives and in my capacity as Minister to Mallikarjun Kharge.”

Ponnam, however, denied making any derogatory comments, asserting that his words were distorted and actually referred to delays in confirming his flight tickets.

The controversy prompted Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Mahesh Kumar Goud to intervene. After speaking to both ministers over the phone, he urged cooperation and coordination, and the matter was reportedly amicably resolved following his mediation.