Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Congress, BRS supporters clash during Bonalu aid distribution in Secunderabad
In the city of Hyderabad, people were celebrating Bonalu, a special festival.
The government gives money to temples to help them hold festival events.
A leader named Dr Balmoor Venkat was handing out cheques, which are papers that promise money, to about 200 temple groups.
The total money was almost one crore rupees, which is a very large amount.
But not everyone was happy, because another leader named Padma Rao Goud from a different party came to the event too.
Supporters of the two leaders started shouting and arguing with each other.
This made some trouble, and the event had to pause for a little while.
Dr Balmoor Venkat said the other leader came late and caused the trouble, and that festivals should not be used for political fighting.
After a while, things calmed down and the programme continued.
Government Whip and MLC Dr Balmoor Venkat distributed Bonalu festival assistance cheques worth nearly Rs 1 crore to around 200 temple committees in Boudha Nagar.
Supporters of Dr Balmoor Venkat and BRS MLA T Padma Rao Goud engaged in a heated argument and raised slogans for their respective leaders.
The exchange briefly disrupted the programme before the situation was brought under control.
Dr Balmoor Venkat alleged Padma Rao Goud arrived late despite advance notice from officials and created unnecessary disturbances.
He described Bonalu as a symbol of Telangana's culture and said the Congress government prioritises temple development and spiritual heritage.
The Congress leader also said it was inappropriate to bring politics into a sacred programme.
The face-off occurred in the Secunderabad Assembly constituency on Friday.
Dr Balmoor Venkat claimed the Congress government prioritises the people and, unlike the previous regime, does not function with arrogance.
The aid supports the conduct of the Ashada Masam Bonalu celebrations.
- Who
- Government Whip and MLC Dr Balmoor Venkat (Congress) and BRS MLA T Padma Rao Goud, along with their supporters
- What
- A heated argument and sloganeering broke out during the distribution of Bonalu festival assistance cheques
- When
- On Friday, during the Ashada Masam Bonalu season
- Where
- Boudha Nagar in the Secunderabad Assembly constituency, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Why
- Dr Balmoor Venkat alleged the BRS MLA arrived late despite prior information and provoked party workers, turning a sacred religious event into a political clash
Congress view (Dr Balmoor Venkat)
BRS view (MLA Padma Rao Goud supporters)
Politicization of the Bonalu event
Congress view (Dr Balmoor Venkat)
Dr Balmoor Venkat said the MLA arrived late despite being informed in advance by officials, provoked party workers, and turned a sacred programme into chaos; politics should not be brought into a religious event.
BRS view (MLA Padma Rao Goud supporters)
BRS supporters raised slogans in support of Padma Rao Goud and engaged in a heated argument with Congress supporters during the distribution, indicating defence of the MLA's conduct at the event.
- Event
- Bonalu festival assistance cheque distribution
- Location
- Boudha Nagar, Secunderabad Assembly constituency, Hyderabad
- Total aid distributed
- Nearly Rs 1 crore
- Recipients
- Around 200 temple committees
- Occasion
- Ashada Masam Bonalu celebrations
- Key figures
- Dr Balmoor Venkat (Congress) and T Padma Rao Goud (BRS)
- Disruption
- Programme briefly disrupted by political sloganeering before being controlled