Meet Revanth Reddy, the Leader Who Dethroned the Powerful KCR from Telangana

Hyderabad: Starting as a Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) member in 2006 and now holding the position of Chief Minister in Telangana, Anumula Revanth Reddy has navigated a remarkable 17-year political career.

A key figure in the Congress Party at 54, often referred to as the “Palamuru Bidda” or beloved son of Mahabubnagar, Reddy entered politics in 2007 as an independent candidate, securing a seat in the Legislative Council.

Originally from Mahbubnagar, Revanth Reddy later joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and successfully contested the United Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections from Kodangal in 2009.

In 2014, he made a switch to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and contested for the Telangana Assembly. During his student days, he was a member of the ABVP, a fact that was utilized against him in the recent assembly elections, attempting to portray him as an RSS-minded individual with a warning to Muslims not to expect any positive initiatives from him.

Reddy had also worked briefly for RSS mouthpiece Jagruti, a Telugu weekly, in Hyderabad. In his early days, he never attempted to conceal his association with the RSS.

He admitted that as he aged and matured, he began to oppose the RSS ideology and, looking towards other secular parties, eventually broke ties with the Sangh Parivar.

His otherwise transparent career faced a significant setback when he was caught in a sting operation by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau. Arrested during the 2015 MLC elections for allegedly bribing another independent MLC candidate on camera to vote for a TDP candidate, eventually he was sent to jail.

Released on bail, he returned home amid a grand reception. It was then that he challenged the TRS supremo by twirling his mustaches. Eight years later, Revanth Reddy has turned the tables on the Chief Minister KCR.

Joining the Congress in 2017 and becoming the head of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee in 2021, he faced strong resistance from senior leaders within the party. However, he persevered, uniting leaders big and small to present a formidable opposition to the otherwise unassailable TRS in Telangana.

Recently concluded Telangana Assembly elections saw Revanth Reddy as the face of Congress’ resounding success. His victory not only established him as a prominent figure in Telangana but also brought together factions within the party, ultimately paving the way for a spectacular triumph against the TRS.