On the whole, the universally accepted fact—even by well-wishers of the Congress—is that both the party and the government are in disarray.
Published Oct 27, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 27, 2025 | 9:00 AM
In private conversations over the past week, Revanth Reddy is understood to have poured out his anguish over Goud’s style of functioning.
Synopsis: It is widely acknowledged that, unlike Congress chief ministers in the past, Revanth has given due importance to the PCC chief and is therefore unable to tolerate a lack of reciprocation. The chief minister went out of his way to extend perks and benefits to Goud that had never before been granted to a PCC chief. He was allotted a government quarter meant for ministers (since refurbished at the cost of lakhs of public funds), provided enhanced security with a pilot vehicle, and even allowed to go on foreign jaunts.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is angry and upset, fretting and fuming – and there are enough reasons for his current state of mind.
Near non-cooperation from senior ministers, their failure, along with that of other party leaders, to defend him against attacks from the Opposition, and the evident lack of effort to present a cohesive image of government functioning have all combined to irritate him to no end.
The latest to join the list of Congress leaders facing the chief minister’s ire is Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Mahesh Kumar Goud.
In private conversations over the past week, Revanth Reddy is understood to have poured out his anguish over Mahesh’s style of functioning. The chief minister, who had backed him for the party chief post, is reportedly saying that he is now working against his interests and even going so far as to spread “canards” about him.
Revanth is said to feel that Goud has hardly been focusing on party matters, spending little time at Gandhi Bhavan, the party headquarters. He has not even completed a tour of all districts, though it is now a year since he occupied the post.
The chief minister, sources told South First, believes that Mahesh Kumar Goud has failed to ensure effective coordination between the government and the party – an essential requirement when the party is in power. On a few occasions, the PCC charted an independent course on some issues without gauging the government’s thinking.
It is widely acknowledged that, unlike Congress chief ministers in the past, Revanth has given due importance to the PCC chief and is therefore unable to tolerate a lack of reciprocation.
For instance, when YS Rajasekhara Reddy was chief minister from 2004 to 2009, the then PCC presidents were largely symbolic, with YSR practically directing both the government and the party. Revanth, in contrast, has made a conscious effort to involve the PCC in all important decisions.
On an earlier occasion, in the presence of top All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) leaders, Revanth Reddy labeled Goud an “absentee landlord” for not spending enough time at the party office.
A senior leader noted that the PCC chief instead spends time visiting ministers at their offices or residences, or catching up with friends.
Curiously, he has also often been seen with family members while meeting AICC leaders or performing pujas at Gandhi Bhavan – something none of his predecessors did.
The chief minister also blamed Mahesh Goud for failing to submit recommendations for appointments to various state-owned corporations. This has caused inordinate delays in recognising the efforts of grassroots party leaders who contributed to Congress’s 2023 victory.
The “Janahita Pada Yatra,” launched by the party president amid much fanfare a few months ago to popularise government welfare schemes, lasted only a few days. There’s been no talk of it since.
Critics also point to the defeat of Congress at the Medak–Nizamabad–Adilabad–Karimnagar Graduates seat during the MLC elections held earlier this year under his stewardship.
Nizamabad, the district he belongs to, still remains unrepresented in the cabinet, as he has blocked Chief Minister Revanth’s choice, MLA P Sudarshan Reddy, from being inducted.
This is despite Revanth Reddy going out of his way to extend perks and benefits to Goud that had never before been granted to a PCC chief. He was allotted a government quarter meant for ministers—refurbished at a cost of lakhs of public funds—provided with enhanced security including a pilot vehicle, and even allowed to go on foreign jaunts.
The occasion for Revanth Reddy to vent his ire at ministers came during the State Cabinet meeting on Thursday, 23 October. Soon after the official business concluded, he reportedly admonished his fellow ministers, saying their conduct was bringing a bad name to both the government and himself.
“I have given full freedom to all of you. But you are misusing it and also fighting among yourselves. This is not done. I am not going to tolerate this anymore. Don’t blame me if I take appropriate action,” the chief minister reportedly warned.
At the Cabinet meeting, the chief minister also made it a point to refer to South First’s recent report on AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge expressing unhappiness over the functioning of the government and wondered why no minister had chosen to defend the regime.
Senior journalist and MD of Andhra Jyothi Telugu daily, V Radhakrishna, wrote in his weekly Sunday column that what troubled Revanth Reddy was the effort by his own colleagues to project him as a “failure Chief Minister.”
And he did issue a veiled warning that if he were to leave, the government could collapse, recalling the painstaking efforts he made before 2023 to defeat Bharat Rashtra Samiti chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, and bring the Congress to power.
Considered close to the chief minister, Radhakrishna, in his inimitable style, offered advice to both Revanth Reddy and the Congress central leadership.
“Unless you crack the whip against errant ministers, your leadership will not be respected or accepted. At the same, Revanth should cultivate the habit of consulting senior leaders before taking important decisions,” he told the chief minister.
To the AICC, his advice was to stand behind the chief minister instead of encouraging groups working against him. Lest the image of the government, which has already taken a beating, suffer further damage were his wise words.
During private conversations, the chief minister also referred to constant efforts made by some to accuse his family members, particularly brothers, of involving themselves in government affairs.
“I can name at least a half-a-dozen ministers whose family members are very much involved in the affairs of the departments they are dealing with. Why is my family being singled out?” was his counter.
On the whole, the universally accepted fact—even by well-wishers of the Congress—is that both the party and the government are in disarray.
How the “high command” will respond is the million-dollar question. Thus far, whether in the expansion of the Cabinet or selection of candidates for the Legislative Council that happened some months ago, the choices were solely at the discretion of the central leadership.
To those watching and talking to Revanth Reddy of late, he is presenting himself as one ready to take the internal battle head-on, irrespective of the end result.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
