Hyderabad: In a visit reminiscent of the dynamic leadership of late chief minister Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy, Telangana's Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's first tour to the national capital after the Lok Sabha elections is being hailed as a resounding success.
Revanth Reddy met Union ministers, demonstrating his political acumen and exhibiting a commendable level of political diplomacy. His approach sharply contrasted with that of his predecessor, K. Chandrashekar Rao, who had a history of confrontations with the Centre and avoided meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for two years and two months. Revanth Reddy's inclusive and cooperative stance was well-received, indicating a positive shift in Telangana's relationship with the Central government.
The Chief Minister's two-day tour, marked by strategic meetings and political diplomacy, has resulted in securing concrete assurances from defence minister Rajnath Singh on the transfer of over 2,450-acre defence lands for the construction of flyovers, roads in Hyderabad, housing and urban affairs minister Manohar Lal Khattar on the construction of 2.50 lakh houses for poor with central funds, and health minister J.P.Nadda on the clearance for release of Rs 693 crore arrears to state under National Health Mission (NHM)
He also secured assurance of the Central government on assistance for the expansion of Hyderabad Metro Rail, Musi Riverfront development project, showcasing Revanth Reddy's adeptness in navigating the national political landscape.
Revanth Reddy — both as the TPCC chief as well as the Chief Minister — could strike a perfect balance between political activities and government activities during his two-day Delhi trip.
Revanth Reddy had meetings with Congress top leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge among others and discussed the appointment of new TPCC chief, expansion of his Cabinet and filling up nominated posts.
Official sources said the Chief Minister also secured the party high command's approval for joining of BRS MLAs into the Congress and safeguarding the political interests of new entrants along with old-timers in the party.
In a symbolic gesture highlighting his commitment to unity and bipartisanship, Revanth Reddy sat in the public gallery of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. He watched and cheered as Lok Sabha members from Telangana, including those from the Congress and the BJP, took their oath, showing support irrespective of their party affiliations. This act of political goodwill was widely appreciated and highlighted his effort to bridge partisan divides.
Hailing Revanth Reddy's gesture, BJP Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Aravind posted on X, "Today, seated in the public gallery of the Lok Sabha, Telangana Chief Minister Shri Revanth Reddy, as a congratulatory gesture, waved at all the oath taking MPs from Telangana, including the BJP members."
By doing so, the Chief Minister sent a clear and loud message to all MPs of Telangana, including those from the BJP, to prioritise the state's benefits over political conflicts and work collectively for the state's progress in parliament.
The Delhi visit reflected Revanth Reddy's proactive approach in securing the Centre's support for Telangana's development, demonstrating a collaborative spirit despite political differences with the BJP-led government at the Centre.
Political observers have noted the stark contrast between Revanth Reddy's inclusive approach and Chandrashekhar Rao's confrontational politics. By reaching out to leaders across the political spectrum and fostering a spirit of cooperation, Revanth Reddy is charting a new course for Telangana's engagement with the Centre, sources said.
Revanth Reddy's successful tour of Delhi not only highlights his political maturity but also rekindles memories of late Chief Minister YS Rajashekar Reddy's days, when a similar approach of negotiation and cooperation with the Centre yielded significant dividends for the state, they added.
Revanth Reddy's latest Delhi visit marked a significant step towards a harmonious and prosperous future for Telangana, strengthened by robust support from the Centre as well as Congress party high command. His meetings with three Union ministers and attendance at the swearing-in of Telangana MPs in Lok Sabha highlighted his commitment to federalism and the betterment of the state, official sources said.
