Chaudhary arrived at the complex with her dog seated inside her vehicle. As photos circulated showing journalists and a few MPs interacting with the pet, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal raised a formal objection, calling the act a violation of security and decorum protocols. “Bringing a dog into Parliament is wrong. Action should be taken. Privileges should not be misused,” Pal said.

Responding to the criticism, Chaudhary dismissed the concerns and questioned the basis of the objections. “What security concerns? The dog never entered the Parliament building. It stayed in the car,” she said. Defending her decision, she added, “It’s a small animal and causes no harm. The ones who bite are in Parliament, not the dogs.”

According to the Parliament House Premises Conduct and Behaviour Rules and the Lok Sabha Handbook for Members, pets are not permitted in the complex. The regulations restrict entry to authorised persons, vehicles and security-cleared items, a rule enforced by the Parliament Security Branch. Any item or animal considered to affect security or decorum is explicitly prohibited.

Chaudhary, a senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Telangana, was re-elected to the Upper House in 2024. A former Union minister, she has served in portfolios including Women & Child Development, Tourism, and Health.

The Winter Session, scheduled from 1 to 19 December, will see 15 sittings and the possible introduction of around 10 new bills, including the Atomic Energy Bill. The dog episode, however, dominated early political exchanges, adding an unexpected flashpoint to a session already expected to be contentious.