In an interview, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, shares details about his life. Starting from his political journey to philosophy, and his views on various contemporary political issues.
Reddy introduced himself as a first-generation politician hailing from a small village, who is the son of a farmer. He highlighted his humble beginnings, having studied in a government school. His political career began in 2006. He initially worked with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and then joined the Congress Party in 2017 under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, serving as the working president of the Telangana Raj Congress within six months.
He was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Malkajgiri constituency in 2019, which he claims is "the world's largest parliament constituency" in terms of voters, with over 35 lakh voters. In 2023, he became the first Chief Minister of Telangana from the Congress party.
Political philosophy and ideology
When asked about his motivation for entering politics, Reddy stated his primary goal is to serve the poor. He dismissed the notion that his career transitions between different parties make him a "political mercenary", likening political parties to companies like Infosys or Microsoft for an IT professional. Reddy emphasises that the ultimate goal is to "serve" and "invent something". He defines his core ideology to be "helping the poor, helping the farmers".
Reddy also spoke at length on the concept of ideology in modern politics. He suggested that it has become less about traditional principles and more about performance. He said, "Goods delivery is an ideology nowadays," and that performance itself is a core ideology in today's politics. He believes that a political opponent's ideology should be understood, comparing it to a believer in the Bhagavad Gita also studying the Quran or the Bible.
Views on political dynamics and contemporary issues
1. Relationship with Chandrababu Naidu and TDP: Reddy expressed personal respect and a good relationship with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. However, he drew a line between his personal and political life, stating, "Congress is my party and I have to protect it, I have to fight for my party." He compared the dynamic to the Mahabharata, where familial bonds did not prevent war.
2. Telangana Model: Reddy stated his vision is to create a "Telangana model" that can serve as an example for the rest of India. He sees his position as Chief Minister of a young state as a great opportunity to create a new legacy, as the state's political "wall" is still clean. He announced plans for a 'Bharat Future City' master plan, scheduled for launch on December 9, 2025, with the objective of competing with global hubs such as New York and Tokyo. Additional projects include the rejuvenation of the 55-kilometer Musi riverfront to establish a 'night economy' and strategies to address the state's 7 lakh crore debt. He also drew a distinction between the Vajpayee government, which he described as having 'moral constitutionality,' and the current government, while referring to the Prime Minister as his 'bada bhai' (big brother) to signify respect for the office despite political differences.
3. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Reddy claimed he correctly predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party's seat count would not exceed 240 in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, contrary to public and media speculation of a much higher number. He also reiterated his belief that Rahul Gandhi will be the next Prime Minister in 2029, a prediction he is "100 per cent sure" about, citing his past correct forecasts, such as the 135 seats for the Congress in Karnataka.
4. Controversy surrounding the vice-presidential candidate: Reddy appealed to all Telugu-speaking MPs, regardless of party affiliation, to support the INDIA alliance's vice-presidential candidate, Sudarshan Reddy, citing his status as a "son of the soil" and a "constitutional expert." He described this appeal as a "moral obligation" for the Telugu community and not a political move. He strongly defended Sudarshan Reddy against criticism from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding his role in the Salwa Judum case, calling Shah's comments "unconstitutional".
5. Naxalism: Reddy countered the argument that Naxalism can be eliminated using force, and referred to it as an "ideology" and not a virus. He said that core policies of the Congress party like the Land Ceiling Act and Forest Rights Act deal with the primary causes of Naxalism, which is why its influence has waned.
Also read: Telangana CM orders CBI probe into Kaleshwaram project case
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