Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy is making waves with his bold, unconventional decisions ahead of key political battles. Unfazed by criticism, he prioritizes strategy over approval, sparking debates within and beyond party circles. His moves, though polarizing, underscore a vision aimed at revamping the party’s fortunes in Telangana.
After a year in office, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is making it clear that he isn’t here to seek validation from anyone. His decisions and his government’s actions often come across as unpopular and unusual, yet, Revanth Reddy doubles down unfazed in the face of criticism. He wants nobody’s approval and he isn’t here to impress you.
Despite policy decisions — such as setting up the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) to reclaim encroached land, and implementing the Musi Riverfront development project that led to demolitions and clearances — sparking significant uproar, Revanth Reddy surged ahead in an unprecedented manner.
All the criticisms and debates on the displacement of the poor, “bulldozer action” in Hyderabad and selective targeting of encroachers are now settled down; half after the Congress government announced alternative accommodations to Musi river basin dwellers and the other half when the Telangana High Court backed the decision to reclaim lost land but with a humanitarian approach.
As far as government action goes — from pulling down actor Nagarjuna-owned convention centre to arresting Allu Arjun over the death of a woman during his movie Pushpa 2: The Rule’s premiere — Revanth Reddy has taken the unpopular route, something that is bold and unusual for Telangana’s socio-political space.
Unpopular decisions and popular support
The fandom, and the accompanying public support and admiration, that Telugu superstars enjoy is extraordinary. They are rich, powerful, popular and wield immense sway over the public.
Even with legal sanctions, initiating action against them is seen as a risky affair for any political party. However, Revanth Reddy doesn’t seem to care if his decisions are unpopular.
When asked about Arjun’s arrest, the chief minister, calmly and quite correctly, pointed to the travesty that the procedural arrest of an actor was inviting more outrage than the death of a hapless woman who just wanted to watch a movie with her family. Despite knowing that his decisions are unpopular, the chief minister is not seeking validation.
It isn’t just limited to policy decisions, but politics as well. From changing the registration number of vehicles in Telangana to launching new logos for government departments or even conceptualising a new form for Telangana Thalli, Revanth Reddy’s political decisions also have drawn criticism.
It ranged from allegations that he wanted to wipe off former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s legacy to destroying the cultural identity of Telangana.
Unfazed, Revanth Reddy has been sticking to his guns. From a bejewelled, crowned, royal and resplendent goddess, Telangana Thalli is today the relatable “mother”. “Telangana Thalli statue today reminds me of my mother,” Revanth said underscoring why his version of the Telangana Thalli was simple, relatable.
His “my way is the right way” approach doesn’t spare his party either. While Congress leaders attack industrialist Gautam Adani and his proximity to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Revanth Reddy signs deals with Adani firms. His “business and politics are different” approach needed a strong central leadership intervention before his government refused a donation from the Adani Foundation.
Why is Revanth Reddy doing unpopular things?
In the faction-ridden, divided Telangana Congress, Revanth Reddy is still an outsider who fought his way to the top. With roots in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and tutelage under Chandrababu Naidu in TDP, Revanth Reddy is not a quintessential Congressman.
He presides over a Cabinet that is unhappy with his captaincy; he works among party colleagues who lobby against him. Revanth Reddy has very few friends around him and depends heavily on his brothers and his handpicked team to watch his back. He will perhaps never willingly get the popular support of his party, his cabinet or his own government. He isn’t unaware of the reality.
Revanth Reddy is neither a mass leader nor a leader who rose from a movement like BRS patriarch K Chandrasekhar Rao. Even during the 2023 Telangana assembly elections, Revanth Reddy’s influence was limited to his home district and neighbouring constituencies, despite the ‘pan-Telangana’ image his team tried to build.
Not a popular man in the party or among the masses, it is now Revanth Reddy’s time to leave a mark as a leader. What he does as Chief Minister would shape his legacy.
His unpopular decisions are slowly and steadily gaining him popular support from the masses. Revanth Reddy is making unpopular decisions to leave a mark — on common people and those in places of power and influence. He is here to make noise — in every decision, action, and move — for everyone to take notice.
Beyond the outrage from fans of Allu Arjun, some people find the logic in wanting justice for a life that was lost. Beyond the Opposition’s criticisms over demolitions, some citizens see the need for someone to get their hands dirty to clean up the mess of encroachment, no matter how unpopular the decision is. If that is what it takes for Revanth Reddy to build his legacy, then so be it, seems to be his approach.
The Telangana chief minister isn’t looking for anyone to appreciate his unpopular decisions but is convinced that they will yield results eventually. Novelty is, after all, valuable. #hydkhabar
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