In a move that has sparked questions from the Opposition, the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government intensified its crackdown on the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leadership. On Monday, BRS Huzurabad MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy was arrested following an altercation with Congress Jagtial MLA Sanjay Kumar. The government escalated its action on Tuesday by placing senior BRS leaders, including working president K T Rama Rao, senior leader T Harish Rao and several party MLAs, under house arrest.

The arrest of Kaushik Reddy stemmed from a complaint filed by an aide of Kumar, accusing the BRS MLA of physical abuse and obstruction. The Opposition has raised concerns over the timing and implications of these actions, questioning the government's motives behind the crackdown.

Released on bail by a Karimnagar court on Tuesday, Kaushik told The Indian Express: “The Congress talks about Rahul Gandhi and the Constitution, but here in Telangana, they violate its provisions every other day.”

Kumar, who had won the 2022 Assembly elections on a BRS ticket but defected to the Congress last year, was involved in the altercation with Kaushik Reddy on Sunday. The incident took place during a review meeting at the Karimnagar collectorate, attended by Congress ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar and Duddilla Sridhar Babu. During the meeting, Kaushik repeatedly interrupted Kumar, demanding that he clarify his current political allegiance, which escalated tensions between the two leaders.

Kaushik said, “I have been charged with obstructing the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO). The entire media was there. I don’t even know who the official is. I just asked the MLA which party he belongs to. All our MLAs, MPs, MLCs and lakhs of workers have been placed under house arrest (for this).”

Rama Rao, one of the BRS leaders placed under house arrest, condemned the government's actions, calling them "a heinous act." He criticised the Revanth Reddy government for making the filing of "illegal" cases and the arrest of BRS leaders a routine practice. Rama Rao alleged that the Chief Minister was employing such tactics to avoid facing questions regarding his government's "failed" year in power.

BRS leader Harish Rao also accused the Congress of "misusing power" and engaging in political vendetta, double standards and violations of legal procedures. After Kaushik Reddy was granted bail, Harish labelled the case as fabricated, further asserting that the police were being used as a tool for political persecution.

“The Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that station bail should be granted for bailable offences. Yet, the police are acting like dacoits, making late-night arrests even for trivial matters. Kaushik has 29 cases against him, all filed after Revanth came to power,” he said.

The Congress defended the government’s actions as required for maintaining “law and order”. A PCC office-bearer, who didn’t want to identify himself, told The Indian Express that Kaushik was booked in accordance with the law. “Who is he to ask Kumar which party he belongs to and abuse him? Also, he has got bail. BRS leaders have been placed under house arrest as they were planning to meet him and get him released. This may have led to a law and order situation, especially in the backdrop of the recent incident where Congress and BJP workers clashed,” the leader said.

This is not the first time BRS legislators and leaders have accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of employing strong-arm tactics against the Opposition. BRS working president K T Rama Rao (KTR) currently faces around 10 cases, including allegations of financial discrepancies in the Formula E case. Similarly, senior leader Harish Rao has been booked on charges of illegal phone tapping and threatening political rivals.

Former Kodangal MLA Mahender Reddy was implicated in a case related to a farmers’ protest in Lagcherla, which was marred by allegations of police misconduct and an attack on the Vikarabad collector’s office. Additionally, former BRS legislators Balka Suman and Jeevan Reddy are facing cases, with the former accused of land grabbing and the latter of making “objectionable” remarks against the Chief Minister.

Recently, former Telangana government digital media chief Kontham Dileep was arrested on charges of disseminating misinformation against the Congress government. He was briefly jailed before being granted bail, adding to the growing list of controversies involving political leaders and alleged misuse of power in the state.