Telangana Congress MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy Faces Backlash Over Viral Bus Video
A political firestorm erupted in Telangana on October 7, 2026, after video footage circulated across social media showing Ibrahimpatnam Congress MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy holding the hand of a female college student inside a state-run TGSRTC bus. The 70-year-old legislator boarded the bus under the state government's 'Mahalakshmi' free bus travel scheme for women following a meeting at the District Collectorate.
The footage shows the MLA speaking to two female students while maintaining physical contact, sparking severe outrage from opposition parties who alleged inappropriate conduct and demanded immediate intervention by law enforcement and statutory women's rights commissions.
Opposition Attack and 'Smash Patriarchy' Scrutiny
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp critique of the ruling Congress party following the video's release. Sharing the clip online, BJP leaders questioned the party's commitment to gender safety, invoking Congress's previous public slogans like 'Smash Patriarchy' and accusing the leadership of political hypocrisy regarding its own elected representatives.
Concurrently, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader R.S. Praveen Kumar urged the Telangana State Women's Commission and the state police's SHE Teams to register a formal case, alleging outraging of modesty and demanding an investigation into the absence of female security personnel aboard public transit.
Legislator's Defense and Public Explanation
Responding to the mounting criticism, Malreddy Ranga Reddy issued a video statement denying all allegations of inappropriate behavior. The MLA clarified that his interaction with the students was strictly paternal and affectionate, adding that the brief physical contact occurred as he sought balance while the moving vehicle took a sharp turn.
Ranga Reddy accused opposition parties of editing and misinterpreting the clip for political gain, stating that he holds deep respect for women and female students across his constituency.
Key Implications
The viral debate underlines heightened scrutiny over public representatives' conduct on public transit schemes designed for women's empowerment across South Asia.
As opposition leaders call for formal inquiries by the Women's Commission, the political controversy is expected to intensify legislative debates surrounding public safety enforcement and passenger decorum on municipal transit systems.