Curious case of Telangana CM Revanth Reddy: ‘Surprise’ for Congress, ‘ideal’ for BJP

Had Revanth Reddy stopped at that, it would have been just a courteous, gracious, statesman-like acknowledgement of Centre-state relations.

Revanth Reddy, however, went a step further to praise the “Gujarat model of development” and said he wanted “development like that for Telangana”. The “Gujarat model” that his party — the Congress — has been tearing down for years now. The “Gujarat model” that leaders of the Congress, including Rahul Gandhi, have defined as a facade.

It didn’t help that Revanth Reddy “retweeted” a post of PM Modi visiting a temple in Telangana. The Opposition BRS was quick to highlight the endorsement.

Look how deep the relationship between the big brother and younger brother is! Just shows the nexus between BJP and Congress parties. The brothers can like each others tweets and hug how much ever they want! Just don’t destroy our Telangana in this process!

I won’t be surprised… pic.twitter.com/7ZCr3KTySE

— Kavitha Kalvakuntla (@RaoKavitha) March 5, 2024

Also Read: Role of Telugu leaders in national politics on decline, says Revanth Reddy

Other instances

It isn’t just Revanth Reddy’s shower of praises for Modi and the Gujarat model that has stunned the Congress. Several of Revanth Reddy’s moves have put the Congress in an uncomfortable position as far as its political stand goes.

In January this year, Revanth Reddy inked an investment pact with the Adani group of companies. The Telangana chief minister was all smiles in a photo alongside Gautam Adani — the businessman that the Congress has made the face of crony capitalism in India.

Revanth Reddy signed MoUs with Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani. (X)

None other than Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly gone after Adani, insinuating that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has gone out of its way to facilitate the growth of Adani’s firms in a display of crony capitalism.

Sources in the Congress suggest that the photo had caused much embarrassment to the party.

Revanth Reddy was promptly pulled up by the Opposition BRS for hobnobbing with Adani, who was the target of his own party — the Congress.

“But it is for the state’s welfare,” came the defence in both the above instances. The claim however falls flat in another instance.

When four southern states — Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and even Andhra Pradesh — pushed for the South Tax movement, demanding fiscal justice from the union government, there was pin-drop silence from Telangana.

Even when the Congress government in Karnataka led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah staged a protest in Delhi, the Congress government in Telangana led by Revanth Reddy didn’t show solidarity or support it.

In contrast, when Kerala’s LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan staged a protest in Delhi over fiscal federalism, ministers from the MK Stalin-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu participated.

Once again, Revanth Reddy’s reluctance to take on the Union government led by Narendra Modi was a curious instance.

This time, states were fighting for welfare. Chief ministers were demanding funds for their states’ welfare. But Revanth Reddy wasn’t seen raising concerns despite Telangana being among the bigger losers of Central funds over the years.

Also Read: CM Revanth Reddy goes all out to delink Telangana movement from BRS

Stunning Congress, and how!

Revanth Reddy’s “shenanigans” — if one may call it that — have stunned the Congress. “He is very clear that he has only spoken like a chief minister and there is no compromise on ideological stance,” an AICC office-bearer said.

Despite the defensive stance, the tone betrays the reality.

Revanth Reddy has managed to stun the Congress with his repeated display of unusual behaviour. His statements aren’t just those of a chief minister but also of the Congress’ Telangana unit chief.

When the Congress’ state unit president praises the prime minister in an election year, poses with Adani months before the Lok Sabha polls, and refuses to stand with other states where the party is in power, even the Congress acknowledges that something is worrisome.

“The Congress knows Revanth Reddy is trouble. That’s why the party never allows him to meet the prime minister alone. A minister always accompanies him,” mocked a BRS leader.

Adding to the Congress’ discomfort are praises that Revanth Reddy received from BJP leaders for hailing Modi recently.

Take for example what Karnataka’s Leader of the Opposition in the legislative assembly R Ashoka said.

This is how a responsible and statesmanlike Chief Minister of a state is expected to conduct with the Prime Minister of the country in a federal system.

CM @siddaramaiah avare and DCM @DKShivakumar avare, please learn from your younger colleague in Telangana on how to put the… pic.twitter.com/xs12o6yuFn

— R. Ashoka (ಮೋದಿ ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬ) (@RAshokaBJP) March 4, 2024

Ashoka wanted Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to “learn from” Revanth Reddy.

While the BRS in Telangana insists that Revanth Reddy’s bonhomie with the BJP has a lot to do with his roots in the ABVP, the Congress vehemently rejects that idea.

Those close to Revanth Reddy insist that he sees BRS as the primary rival. According to them, his opposition to K Chandrashekar Rao motivates his “cordial relations” with the BJP. He believes keeping the BRS at bay is key to the Congress’ and eventually his government’s welfare.

The BRS attempts to paint it as “keeping his options open”. The insinuation is that he may favour the BJP sometime in the future.

The Congress trashes that claim. It doesn’t have an option but to considering he is its chief minister. But why Revanth does what he does has become a matter of discomfort for the Congress.