Hyderabad: A Dussehra tableau in which BRS workers replaced the effigies of Ram and Ravan with cutouts of K Chandrashekar Rao and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy triggered a scuffle in the city's Sitarambagh area and a sharp exchange between the two parties.
The incident occurred at Ram Maidan in Sitarambagh, where the BRS put up a cutout of Mr Rao as Ram, shown aiming an arrow at a cutout of Mr Revanth Reddy as Ravan. The cutout carried references to alleged scams that the opposition has accused the Congress government of. Congress workers led by a local leader reached the spot and had the cutouts removed.
The Telangana Congress hit back, with leaders saying the ruling party would not tolerate such symbolism. "Next time we will bury them," a Congress leader was quoted as saying, targeting the BRS over the tableau.
BRS leaders said the tableau was a comment on the government's record. The two parties have been trading charges over welfare schemes, power supply and the state's finances for months.
The clash came on Vijayadashami, when effigies of Ravan are traditionally burnt to mark the victory of good over evil. Police said the situation was brought under control, and the cutouts were taken down.
Both parties are positioning themselves for future electoral battles in Telangana. The Congress government, led by Mr Revanth Reddy, has faced sustained criticism from the BRS on governance and promises. The two sides have clashed repeatedly at public events in recent months.
BRS leaders did not respond to the Congress's warning, and the police said the cutouts were removed without any serious injury.