- Takes over as PCC President amidst fanfare
- Komatireddy brothers conspicuous by their absence
- Show of unity and strength, senior leaders present
- Only two leader- Sonia and Rahul- all others are soldiers
Hyderabad: “Give me two years and we will take Telangana State back from KCR,”declared Revanth Reddy after taking the reins of the TPCC from Captain Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday amidst fanfare. AICC Telangana in-charge Manickam Tagore, AICC General Secretary Tariq Anwar were present on the occasion.
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Festive look at Gandhi Bhavan
Gandhi Bhavan wore a festive look on Wednesday when A. Revanth Reddy took over as TPCC president. After delivering on the promise of bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, the Congress had gone into a limbo due to inept handling of the party affairs in 2014 while the TRS which ditched the Congress by deciding not to merge in it as promised had managed a bare majority to form the government on 2 June 2014, the date decided by Parliament for the formation of the new State of Telangana. Since then there was no looking back for K. Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR), chief minister and the chief of TRS.
Gandhi Bhavan was given a facelift following vastu guidelines. The new president would be working from an office space which is different from the space used by PCC presidents so far. The entrance and exit also have been changed as wished by the new incumbent. The entire space in Gandhi Bhavan premises has been filled by people who gathered in large numbers. Enthusiastic crowds turned up from across the State.
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Revanth’s roar
Revanth Reddy roared and raved indicating that the fight for power in TS has begun. He said there are only two leaders in the party and they are Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and all others, including himself, are only soldiers. The cadres applauded when he mentioned that Sonia Gandhi is the only Telugu Talli and not the one imprisoned in the farm house of KCR. He chided his followers when they gave slogans praising him. He said, “Only Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are our leaders.”
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After performing pooja at Peddamma temple in Jubilee Hills, Revanth Reddy headed a huge rally stopping at Nampally dargah. “Tell your mothers and family members that you would be out for two years to save Telangana from the clutches of KCR and we will rescue it from the present rulers,” Revanth told Congressmen. “There was no face for Telangana Talli and only Sonia Gandhi’s face would fit into that. Let us work to give a gift to her as the separate State was her gift to us. Let us express that gratitude,” he exhorted.
A sense of unity
The stage backdrop has only the pictures of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Since there a host of seniors in the party, Revanth did not want to annoy any of them by projecting his image. He would like to maintain low profile as far as Congressmen are concerned and be aggressive when it comes to attacking the present dispensation in the State. Revanth tried his best to project a picture of unity by having senior leaders with him. He had Uttam Kumar Reddy, the outgoing pcc president handing over the charge to him while Bhatti Vikramarka, the Congress legislature party leader, was on his side. Jana Reddy was seen smiling. Jagga Reddy who entertained the ambition of becoming PCC president had also fallen in line. Revanth did a clever thing by going to the residences of the senior leaders of the party to get their blessings and support. That has worked in favour of him although a strong leader from Nalgonda, Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and his brother Rajagopal Reddy were not to be seen around. Komatireddy Venkatareddy, MP from Bhuvanagiri, had publicly opposed the nomination of Revanth Reddy and vowed not to step into Gandhi Bhavan. Though Jeevan Reddy, another senior leader who commands respect, was not present, he is understood to have sent his message of goodwill and support.
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CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka, TPCC Campaign Committee Chairman Madhu Yashki Goud, TPCC Working President J. Geetha Reddy and Mohammad Azahruddin also spoke on this occasion.
Revanth Reddy’s taking over the reins of the Congress party in Telangana State in a grand manner is in keeping with his personality. He is known for his aggressive nature in politics and business. He is self-propelled and ambitious. Moving from ABVP to TDP to the Congress was like a cakewalk for him. He was always close to the leadership and he has been a go-getter.
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Proximity to Naidu
In his enthusiasm to impress his former boss, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, when he was in the TDP, he got himself entangled in the ‘Vote for Note’ case. Otherwise, he would not have carried the bundle of currency notes himself. He would have deputed some non-descriptive leader to do the task. If Revanth continues to showcase his intimacy with the TDP supremo, it may harm his chances in the Congress. He was talking of ‘Gurudakshina’ to TDP chief. If that praise was intended to rope in the residual TDP leaders into the Congress, there is no harm. If the impression that Revanth is in the hands of Naidu gains ground it will certainly harm the Congress as it did in 2018. Make no mistake that had Congress not got closer to Naidu in 2018 elections, the party would have got more seats than it did. If Revanth does not care to take lessons from that experience and continues his association with Naidu, he would pay the price. The ‘Note for Vote’ case will be hanging above his neck and KCR would try to use both the proximity of Revanth to Naidu and the case to his advantage and to the disadvantage of the new PCC president.
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