Telangana police book BJP social media members over a critical poster targeting CM Revanth Reddy’s two-year report card, prompting sharp reactions from BJP leaders who call the move an attack on free speech.

Political Tensions Rise as Telangana BJP Workers Booked Over Poster Criticising CM Revanth Reddy

A political storm erupted in Telangana after police registered a case against BJP Social Media In-Charge Sumiran Komarraju and two members of his digital team for displaying a poster attacking Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s two-year governance record. The posters, which appeared outside the Congress headquarters, portrayed the Chief Minister in a controversial caricature alongside allegations of corruption and misconduct.

According to police, a complaint led to the case being filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Officers clarified on Tuesday that notices had been issued and no arrests were made, even as BJP leaders accused the state government of trying to muzzle dissent.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy condemned the action, calling it “blatant suppression of opposition voices.” In a sharp criticism, he questioned how a government promoting Telangana as a reliable destination for global investment could simultaneously initiate police action over political satire. “Such arbitrary steps only tarnish the state’s image and signal intolerance,” he wrote on X.

Several BJP leaders—including MP Arvind Dharmapuri and state spokesperson N.V. Subhash echoed similar concerns, arguing that the posters simply asked questions the public was already raising about unfulfilled Congress promises. They accused the government of adopting a “vindictive” approach and attempting to intimidate critics.

The controversy highlights growing friction between Telangana’s ruling Congress and the BJP, especially as the state positions itself on the national stage with events like the Telangana Rising Summit. While the government defends its legal recourse, opposition leaders see the case as part of a worrying trend of shrinking political space. Such confrontations could deepen polarisation ahead of upcoming local body polls, making the handling of free speech and criticism a defining issue in state politics.