Against all odds, Revanth Reddy, a 54-year-old former TDP MLA and ABVP member, has steered the Congress party to a remarkable victory in the Telangana assembly elections, just two years after taking over as the state president.
Reddy’s appointment in 2021 came at a critical juncture for the Congress in Telangana. The party was struggling to regain its footing against the incumbent TRS, led by the formidable K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). Additionally, the BJP had started making inroads into the state, posing another challenge to the Congress.
Undeterred by these obstacles, Reddy embarked on a mission to revitalize the Congress. He rallied support from within the party, uniting warring factions and quelling dissent among senior leaders. His padyatra (foot march) in February 2023 marked a turning point, as he fearlessly took on KCR and his family, something no previous Congress leader had dared to do.
Reddy’s efforts were complemented by the active involvement of state election in charge Manick Rao Thakre and Sunil Kanugolu. Thakre successfully wooed back former Congress leaders who had defected to the BJP, while Kanugolu’s team devised a district-wise campaign strategy to counter KCR’s emotional statehood pitch.
Reddy’s oratorial skills and his accessibility to the people also played a significant role in his success. He connected with the locals, who often perceived KCR as an aloof leader. Moreover, Reddy’s Reddy caste identity resonated with a large section of the electorate, potentially paving the way for him to join the list of Reddy chief ministers in Telangana’s history.
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