Rajagopal Reddy’s choice to target Jana Reddy, a known ally of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, appears to be an indirect aim at the Chief Minister himself.
Published Apr 14, 2025 | 7:43 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 14, 2025 | 7:43 AM
(From the left) Former Minister K Jana Reddy, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy.
Synopsis: Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy’s public criticism of senior Congress leader K Jana Reddy, whom he accused of blocking his entry into the Telangana cabinet, appears to be a veiled challenge to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s leadership. His remarks, made during a gathering in Choutuppal, hints at internal rifts within the ruling party.
In what appears to be a sign of rising tensions within the ruling Congress in Telangana, Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy has launched a public attack on senior leader and former Minister K Jana Reddy.
Speaking at a gathering in Choutuppal, Nalgonda district, on Sunday, 13 April, Rajagopal Reddy accused Jana Reddy of blocking his entry into the state cabinet.
“Jana Reddy, a Minister for three decades, is now citing the need for representation for Rangareddy and Hyderabad in the cabinet to delay my entry. Why this sudden concern?” he said, hinting at deeper power struggles within the party and suggesting Jana Reddy was attempting to assert his dominance.
Rajagopal Reddy’s choice to target Jana Reddy, a known ally of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, appears to be an indirect aim at the Chief Minister himself.
Sources within the party said Revanth Reddy has resisted Rajagopal Reddy’s inclusion in the cabinet, pointing to the existing presence of his brother, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and N Uttam Kumar Reddy – both Ministers from the same district – as a reason.
Meanwhile, both men are also said to have strained relations with the Chief Minister.
Rajagopal Reddy’s comments about the Congress losing Lok Sabha elections in Mahabubnagar and Malkajgiri – Revanth Reddy’s home district and former Lok Sabha seat respectively – to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appear to be a thinly veiled dig at the Chief Minister’s leadership.
Especially since Rajagopal Reddy, who quit the BJP to join the Congress in 2023, contrasted it with his own contribution to the Congress’ victory in Bhongir, despite being only an MLA.
He said that in many Lok Sabha constituencies, where Congress Ministers were made in-charges, the party lost them to the BJP.
Dismissing objections to siblings serving together in the cabinet, Rajagopal Reddy quipped, “If brothers Yusuf and Irfan Pathan could play for India, why can’t we serve together?”
Known for his outspokenness, he said he is a leader with self-respect, stating, “I do not beg for posts. I have earned my place by helping the Congress defeat the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the last Assembly elections, after returning to the party from the BJP.”
He added that a ministerial role is a duty, not a crown, and expressed frustration at having to justify his candidature for the post at every turn.
On the same day Rajagopal Reddy vented his bottled-up emotions, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President M Mahesh Kumar Goud held a hurried press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, in Hyderabad, condemning Andhra Jyothy editor Vemuri Radha Krishna’s critical article on Rahul Gandhi, and accused him of echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talking points. .
“Radha Krishna should have advised Rahul like a brother, not attacked him. Whose agenda is he serving?” he questioned.
The timing of Goud’s press meet, coinciding with Rajagopal Reddy’s outburst, has left many puzzled since the newspaper is perceived to be favourable to the Congress.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
