He criticised what he called the party’s opportunism and claimed that he was trying to remain patient, despite his frustration.
Published Aug 12, 2025 | 6:50 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 12, 2025 | 6:50 PM
Munugode Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy
Synopsis: Munugode Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy on Tuesday renewed his criticism of the party over his continued exclusion from the cabinet. Citing the example of Khammam district having three ministers for nine MLAs, he questioned why Nalgonda district, with 11 MLAs, could not have three, and criticised the party’s “opportunism” in denying him the promised post.
Munugode Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, known for his recurrent and vocal dissent within the party, has once again expressed frustration against Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, indirectly holding him responsible for denying him a place in the cabinet.
His latest outburst came on Tuesday, 12 August, at the inauguration of a newly constructed Gram Panchayat building in Elagalagudem village, Munugode mandal, built at a cost of ₹20 lakh.
Addressing the gathering, Reddy, who returned from the BJP to the Congress just before the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections, voiced dissatisfaction over unfulfilled promises of a ministerial post.
He repeated his earlier claim that assurances had been made when he rejoined the party and were reiterated on the eve of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“I can tolerate injustice to me, but not to my constituency. I said this earlier and I’m saying it now,” he said.
“You gave your word; fulfil it when the time comes. But until then, don’t neglect Munugode’s development. Why aren’t the equations working out to take me into the cabinet? Who is blocking my entry?”
Reddy further addressed claims that one of the reasons for his non-inclusion in the cabinet was the presence of his brother, Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy.
“Didn’t they know I have a brother when they made the promise to me, and when they renewed it before the Lok Sabha elections?” he asked.
“Khammam district, with nine MLAs, has three ministers. Is it wrong for Nalgonda district, with 11 MLAs, to have three? Both of us brothers are equally capable and strong; what’s wrong if both get ministerial posts?”
He invoked a Telugu idiom – Eru daate daaka voda Mallayya, eru daatintaaru bodi Mallayya (one makes promises until one’s goal is achieved and then conveniently forgets them) – to criticise what he called the party’s opportunism and claimed that he was trying to remain patient, despite his frustration.
“I’ll remain patient and let the party take its own time,” he said, and proceeded to once again remind the party his role in helping Congress nominee nominee Ch Kiran Kumar Reddy win the Bhongir Lok Sabha seat.
This is not the first time Reddy has publicly criticised the leadership. He recently threatened to resign from the Assembly, apparently to build pressure on the party.
The implication was that if he resigned as MLA, the government would be compelled to develop the constituency to win the by-election, as happened when he resigned from the Congress before joining the BJP.
However, that gamble backfired in 2022, with the BRS winning the seat. In 2023, Reddy returned to the Congress and reclaimed the Munugode Assembly seat.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
