Chaos at GHMC budget meeting as BRS corporators evicted for protests

Meanwhile, enraged pink party corporators demanded the release of the detained members.
BRS corporators being evicted by marshals from the GHMC council hall on Thursday
BRS corporators being evicted by marshals from the GHMC council hall on Thursday Photo | Sri Loganathan Velmurugan
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HYDERABAD: Pandemonium erupted during the GHMC council meeting on Thursday as marshals evicted all BRS corporators for unruly protests, marking the first such use of force since their introduction in 2022, even as the civic body’s Rs 8,440 crore Budget for 2025–26 was deemed approved without any discussion amid the chaos.

When Hyderabad Mayor Gadwal Vijayalaxmi introduced the Budget, BRS and BJP corporators demanded that public issues be discussed first. When their demand was ignored, pink party corporators reportedly protested with placards, tore copies of the draft Budget and rushed to the podium in an alleged bid to disrupt proceedings. The mayor — invoking Section 89(1) of the GHMC Act, which empowers her to expel members for “gross disorderly conduct” — ordered marshals to remove BRS corporators. Four pink party corporators were detained for allegedly throwing papers at the Chair, while others staged protests outside the hall, leading to scuffles with police.

GHMC: Heated arguments seen during Budget meeting

The council was adjourned five times as BRS members repeatedly rushed the podium, shouting slogans against the passage of the Budget without debate. Heated arguments between opposition and Congress corporators, many of whom defected from the BRS, were witnessed.

Meanwhile, enraged pink party corporators demanded the release of the detained members. The mayor initially directed authorities to bring them back, but when the four corporators refused to return, chaos ensued.

The mayor adjourned the House for 10 minutes. Upon reconvening, the disturbances continued as BRS corporators stormed the podium and raised slogans. The mayor was forced to adjourn the House again. Marshals then entered the council and removed the corporators. Some BRS MLAs and MLCs present in the meeting left on their own.

BJP corporators stage symbolic ‘begging’ protest

Earlier in the day, BJP corporators staged a theatrical protest, carrying bowls and enacting a “begging” act outside the GHMC office to show that the Congress government was starving the civic body of funds. They demanded that the proposed Osmania General Hospital (OGH) be relocated from the Goshamahal stadium to a site behind the existing facility.

Heavy police deployment ensured the Budget meeting proceeded, but tensions flared as BJP members slammed the government for “bankrupting GHMC” and “stalling Hyderabad’s development”.

BRS leaders condemn ‘undemocratic’ detentions

BRS working president KT Rama Rao condemned the detention of corporators, calling it an attempt by Congress to “stifle opposition voices”. He accused the government of avoiding scrutiny over fund allocation and warned, “BRS will not remain silent against such tyranny.”

Former minister T Harish Rao termed the use of marshals “undemocratic” and asserted, “Public representatives have the right to question failures of the administration.”

Opposition denting image of Hyderabad, charges Ponnam

Meanwhile, Hyderabad in-charge minister Ponnam Prabhakar criticised the opposition corporators, alleging that their protests were denting the image of “Brand Hyderabad”.

Asserting that blocking the meeting was a mockery of the Constitution, he accused the BRS of being jealous of Hyderabad’s development over the past year. He emphasised that the GHMC Budget was crucial for the city’s growth and that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was working diligently to protect its brand image. He held the BRS leadership responsible for obstructing the Budget meeting and dared its leaders to justify it.

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