Published May 26, 2026 | 4:05 PM ⚊ Updated May 26, 2026 | 5:23 PM
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud.
Synopsis: Over the past year, several ministers have been systematically targeted. While it is a fact that most of those on the “hit list” have provided opportunities to rivals through their own questionable actions, those in the anti-Revanth camp believe the exposés are part of a larger design: to keep all potential challengers in check lest they wag their tails.
The ruling Congress party in Telangana does not need rivals to bring it down. Midway through its current term, the party leadership appears to have mastered the art of self-destruction, though its motives remain a mystery.
The latest to fall victim to this process is Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud, a backward-class leader with longstanding association with the party.
It all started with a story on a local Telugu news channel accusing Goud’s tenure as TPCC president of being “disastrous” for the party. The channel went on to brand him a non-performing party chief who had not even visited all the districts for a review.
While such a story on a TV channel or in a newspaper would ordinarily be unremarkable, what caught everyone’s attention was the fact that the channel is owned by a Congress functionary considered close to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
As some Congress leaders came out in defence of Mahesh Goud, the channel put out a fresh post on Monday, 25 May, hinting at something bigger.
“The story isn’t over. It’s just getting darker. We held back because you asked. Don’t mistake our restraint for weakness. Those standing by him today will walk away tomorrow. A revelation that will shake Telangana politics to its core,” it read.
The post has set tongues wagging, with some within the Congress speculating that the channel is in possession of a video that could severely embarrass Mahesh Goud.
Also Read: Signal, warning or invitation? Decoding Modi’s “mere se jud jao” message to Revanth
On the morning of Monday, 26 May, Mahesh Goud is understood to have spoken to the Chief Minister, who reportedly advised him to ignore the issue.
That did little, however, to dispel Mahesh’s doubts about who could be behind the campaign against him. The strained equation between him and Revanth Reddy is, after all, pretty much an open secret within party circles.
Those in Mahesh Goud’s camp allege that the channel owner, Vijay Reddy, had been lobbying for the Warangal district unit presidentship for his brother and harboured a grouse against the TPCC chief for not considering it.
Mahesh’s supporters, however, point out that some Congress MLAs from the district had opposed the proposal, which is why the PCC chief could not consider it.
Sources said Mahesh also suspects that a minority leader—again considered close to Revanth Reddy—could be behind the smear campaign against him.
The minority leader has long aspired to become a working president of the TPCC. But the ambition has remained a wish.
Also Read: His government’s chips are down but Revanth Reddy’s stock is up in Congress
The Mahesh episode would not have caused such a stir had it been an isolated instance. There is, however, a pattern.
Over the past year, several ministers have been systematically targeted, some of them through the Opposition Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
One of them was Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, whose company was accused of engaging in illegal mining. The issue was raised by the BRS in the Assembly. The Chief Minister promptly ordered an inquiry.
Another minister, Seethakka, was accused of wrongdoing in the purchase of thousands of mobile phones for Anganwadi workers. The information, it is said, flowed to the BRS from within the government.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, a Dalit leader, was largely silenced after being accused of trying to favour close associates in the award of a massive tender floated by coal-mining giant Singareni Collieries.
That this, too, was first reported by a Telugu newspaper considered close to the Chief Minister is more than just a coincidence.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar was among those targeted as well.
Also Read: In Telangana, Congress old guard bristle at rise of turncoats to top posts
While it is a fact that most of those on the “hit list” have provided opportunities to rivals through their own questionable actions, those in the anti-Revanth camp believe the exposés are part of a larger design: to keep all potential challengers in check lest they wag their tails.
Mahesh himself has made no secret of his ambitions.
Even as he is reportedly lobbying for the post of deputy chief minister, he also not hesitated to comment on more than one occasion that the Congress leadership could, at some point, consider a BC leader for the post of chief minister.
Mahesh’s comments, made some months ago, did not go down well with Revanth, who is said to have confronted the PCC president over what prompted him to float such propositions.
With “dossiers” allegedly being built against ministers over time, most have learnt to lie low and bide their time. Whether they erupt at some stage, however, remains to be seen.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
