Telangana: Congress suspends MLC Teenmar Mallanna for anti-party activities

The Congress in Telangana on Saturday, March 1, suspended MLC Naveen Kumar, also known as Teenmaar Mallanna, from the party for alleged ‘anti-party activities’. The Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) of the party had earlier, on February 5, served him a show cause notice.

In the suspension order, DAC Chairperson Chinna Reddy stated that despite seeking an explanation on February 12, Mallanna did not respond. “You are continuing your tirade against the Congress party repeatedly,” Chinna Reddy said.

Mallanna was suspended after he criticised and burned the caste survey report released by the Telangana government in February. “Everyone in the state has appreciated the efforts of the Congress government in conducting the caste census and implementing the sub-categorisation of SCs. However, you are pursuing your own agenda, disregarding the party’s interests. The Congress party belongs to every individual, irrespective of caste, region, or religion,” DAC chairman Dr G Chinna Reddy said.

After the Congress issued the show-cause notice, Mallanna said, “If you issue a notice to me, it is as good as issuing one to the BCs (backward classes), on whose behalf I am fighting.”

Mallanna gained popularity as a Telugu journalist in the early 2000s and is known for his satirical takes on socio-political issues. He joined the Telangana Congress in November 2023, ahead of the Telangana Assembly elections.