Even as he continued to express displeasure over being denied a cabinet berth, Rajagopal Reddy on Tuesday maintained that he was not actively lobbying for it.
Published Aug 05, 2025 | 8:42 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 05, 2025 | 8:42 PM
Reddy’s remarks come weeks after his earlier criticism of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
Synopsis: Telangana Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy has once again voiced his discontent over being denied a cabinet berth, claiming that the party had twice promised him a ministerial post, only to renege on the promises. While asserting that he was not lobbying for the post, Reddy said the position would help him serve Munugode better and issued a veiled threat that he might resign and force a by-election if sidelined further.
Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy has claimed that the Congress leadership promised him a cabinet berth at the time of his return to the party from his brief stint with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections, only to go back on that assurance.
“I am not asking for the berth to serve my personal interests. That position would help me serve the people of my constituency and the state better,” he said, once again expressing displeasure at being excluded from the cabinet, while speaking to the media on Tuesday, 5 August.
The party reportedly renewed the promise ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in return for Reddy’s efforts in helping the Congress candidate win the Bhongir Parliament seat.
“Yet again, the party went back on its word. It is up to the party whether it wants to take me into the cabinet or not. It has given cabinet berths to those who came from other parties, but ignored me,” he said.
Since his return to the Congress, Reddy has reportedly become convinced that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy personally blocked his ministerial berth.
While his return was initially seen as a strategic move to strengthen the Congress’ base in Nalgonda, his continued exclusion from the cabinet has now become a thorn in the party’s side.
Reddy’s latest remarks come weeks after his criticism of the chief minister on 18 July, when he publicly condemned Revanth’s declaration that he would remain in power for the next ten years.
Rajagopal Reddy described the claim as “against the principles of the Congress party,” stressing that leadership roles in a national party like the Congress are decided democratically by the high command, and not through self-proclamation.
“True Congress leaders and dedicated workers will not tolerate attempts to turn Telangana Congress into a personal empire,” he wrote in a post on X.
Even as he continued to express displeasure over being denied a cabinet berth, Rajagopal Reddy on Tuesday maintained that he was not actively lobbying for it.
“I don’t prostrate before anyone. If I wanted, I could get a berth by indulging in apple-polishing. But I am not ready to stoop to that level. There is absolutely no need for me to do that,” he declared on Tuesday.
At the same time, he issued a veiled threat to the party that he might resign from his seat and trigger a by-election if he continues to be denied.
In 2022, while still a Congress MLA, he faced disciplinary action for making critical comments against the leadership, which led to his temporary suspension. He soon resigned and joined the BJP.
“I’m willing to go to any length to do good for my constituency. Didn’t I make the entire pack of BRS MLAs rush to Munugode when I resigned my seat earlier? If necessary, I will do it again.”
At the same time, he expressed his commitment to his constituents, stating that he would always choose the people of Munugode over a cabinet berth.
“I will not do anything that would lower the dignity of the people of my constituency. If I really wanted to become a minister, I would have contested from LB Nagar. But I chose to represent the people of Munugode, which is why I didn’t change my constituency,” he claimed.
“If I’m inducted into the cabinet, it will benefit the people. I’m not someone who is looking to earn thousands of crores by somehow landing a cabinet berth and then indulging in unethical and corrupt practices. If someone asked me to choose between a ministerial post and the people of Munugode, I would choose the latter, without a second thought.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
