Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy officially kicked off the Congress party’s campaign for the upcoming municipal elections on Friday, emphasizing development, welfare, and state-centric governance while signaling a pragmatic approach towards the BJP-led Centre. Addressing a public rally in Nirmal town, Reddy underscored that politics should focus on elections, but governance should prioritize the people’s welfare.
Focus on Centre-State Cooperation
Reddy made it clear that he would not adopt a confrontational stance with the central government, despite criticism from political opponents. “Some people criticise me for frequently meeting Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. But it is my responsibility to get funds for the state. Who else will give us funds and projects? If we don’t ask, how will the Centre know our needs?” he said.
He stressed that securing funds and projects for Telangana was paramount, and urged BJP leaders in the state to cooperate in this endeavor for the broader benefit of development. Reddy also criticized the previous government for neglecting to approach the Centre for a decade, claiming it caused irreparable losses to Telangana.
Highlighting Welfare Initiatives
The Chief Minister elaborated on several welfare measures introduced by his administration, emphasizing support for the poor and marginalized:
- Sanctioning Indiramma houses for the homeless.
- Providing fine rice through the public distribution system and bonus payments to fine paddy farmers.
- Supplying LPG cylinders at ₹500 and 200 units of free electricity for poor households.
- Offering free RTC bus travel for women and promoting self-help groups with interest-free loans for women’s empowerment.
Reddy criticized previous administrations for allegedly failing to implement welfare measures and claimed that those who ruled for nearly a decade were unable to digest the new government’s initiatives, which, he said, aim to uplift the poor and strengthen development across the state.
Appeal to Voters Ahead of Municipal Polls
The Chief Minister called on citizens to elect leaders who focus on development and public welfare. “In the coming municipal elections, vote for those who deliver development. We won the last elections, we will win the next ones, and we will return to power in the state and rule till 2038,” Reddy declared.
Development Projects in Nirmal and Adilabad
Earlier in the day, Reddy laid foundation stones and inaugurated multiple development projects in Nirmal district, describing the region as a land of struggle, courage, and sacrifice, while invoking the legacy of tribal revolutionary Kumuram Bheem, who fought for the rights to “Jal, Jangal, Zameen” (water, forest, land).
Reddy highlighted that Adilabad district had been historically neglected and pledged that his government would allocate funds to the district on par with Mahabubnagar, aiming to correct past developmental imbalances.
He also announced several key initiatives for the district:
- Establishing a full-fledged university at the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Basar.
- Completing the Tummidihatti project to provide irrigation water for farmers.
- Planning the construction of an airport in Adilabad, including the acquisition of 10,000 acres of land for the purpose, emphasizing that the district should now have access to air connectivity just as it has received improved road transport (“red buses”).
Outlook for the Municipal Polls
By combining pragmatic engagement with the Centre, robust welfare programs, and high-visibility infrastructure projects, Revanth Reddy aims to position the Congress as the party of development and tangible results in Telangana. Observers suggest that the Chief Minister’s focus on Adilabad and northern Telangana districts is strategically intended to strengthen support in historically neglected regions ahead of the municipal elections.
With the elections approaching, Reddy’s campaign signals a development-centric narrative, emphasizing welfare and infrastructure as central to the Congress’ electoral strategy, while keeping political confrontations with the Centre minimal.
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