Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar denies rift with Adluri Laxman after controversy over alleged remark, calls it a misunderstanding and blames political mischief.

Congress Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluri Laxman Kumar appear to have buried the hatchet after TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud mediated a peace meeting at his Narsingi residence. The meeting followed an uproar within the party after Prabhakar was allegedly heard making a derogatory remark about Laxman during an internal gathering.

Prabhakar later clarified that his comment had been misinterpreted and was not aimed at his colleague. “Laxman is more than a political ally — he’s like a brother. We’ve worked together for decades for the Congress cause,” he said, expressing regret over the misunderstanding. He accused certain vested interests of twisting his words to create internal friction.

The controversy, which erupted just as the Jubilee Hills by-election process began, had drawn attention from AICC leaders who urged swift reconciliation.

Analysis:
While the public apology may have calmed the surface, the episode exposes the simmering factionalism within Telangana Congress. At a time when the party faces mounting challenges from both BRS and BJP, internal disputes could undermine its credibility. Leaders must focus on coordination and delivery instead of internal ego clashes — something that Telangana voters are closely watching.