Shruti Suman
Anumula Revanth Reddy, the leader of the Telangana Congress who played a crucial role in the party’s significant victory in the Assembly polls on November 30, has been chosen as the Congress’s candidate for Chief Minister. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated unequivocally that the decision has been made, confirming Revanth Reddy’s selection for the top position.
The decision was reached during a meeting in Delhi attended by Rahul Gandhi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and national general secretary KC Venugopal, among others. The formal announcement will be made after a Congress Legislature Party meeting in Hyderabad.
Despite his successful leadership in the election campaign, the 54-year-old Reddy has encountered resistance within the party on his path to the Chief Minister’s position. The planned swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for yesterday evening, was canceled due to opposition from some senior Congress members in the state who disagreed with Mr. Reddy’s selection.
Among the dissenting voices are former state Congress chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy, former CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka, former minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and former deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarasimha. They have reportedly objected to Revanth Reddy’s candidacy, citing pending corruption cases and the Congress’s poor performance in Mr. Reddy’s Lok Sabha constituency.
Revanth Reddy faced challenges even when he took charge of the Telangana Congress in 2021. As a former TDP leader, he was accused of paying large sums to secure the position.
During his tenure, the Congress transformed from being a negligible force against the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi to a formidable opponent. Reddy’s proactive campaigning and increased visibility in street protests contributed to the Congress’s gradual resurgence in the state.
However, closer to the election, Reddy’s choice of candidates triggered protests within the state Congress ranks, with accusations of ticket “selling.” Despite the controversies, Reddy was determined to influence the candidate selection process, recognizing that securing the support of MLAs was crucial for his shot at the top post.
Supporters claim that 42 out of the Congress’s 64 MLAs are loyal to Mr. Reddy. This significant backing suggests that the Congress high command, already grappling with electoral setbacks, is unlikely to risk a mass exodus in the only state it emerged victorious in this round of state polls.
