There is a crude proverb in Telugu: “Attha thittinanduku kaadu, thodikodalu navvinanduku edichindata,” (She cried not because she was scolded by mother-in-law, but because her co-daughter-in-law laughed at her).
This aptly applies to Union minister for coal and mines G Kishan Reddy.
On Tuesday, Kishan Reddy expressed strong displeasure over the leakage of the details of the last week’s meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana BJP leaders.
There were reports in the media that the Prime Minister pulled up the BJP MPs from Telangana over the party’s poor performance in the state and accused them of frittering away the gains of the party and allowed the party to drift.
Modi was perturbed that the BJP has not been able to position itself as the principal opposition to the ruling Congress after losing the state assembly polls in 2023. The BJP won only eight of the state’s 119 seats, securing just a 14% vote share.
In the most recent assembly by-poll in Jubilee Hills, the party’s vote share dipped further to 8%, while the Congress won the constituency with over 50% of the vote, he pointed out.
The PM was of the view that BJP leaders in Telangana, including the newly appointed state president N Ramchander Rao and two Union ministers — Bandi Sanjay Kumar and G Kishen Reddy — have to pull their weight to form a formidable opposition to the Congress government.
Reacting to these media reports, Kishan Reddy wondered how confidential discussions had found their way into the public domain.
“The Prime Minister had clearly instructed leaders not to disclose the contents of the meeting, yet selective details were allegedly leaked deliberately,” he said.
“How did the matters discussed with the Prime Minister come out? Someone has intentionally leaked this information,” he said, warning that strict action would be taken if the person responsible was identified.
He asserted that the issue was serious and unacceptable, stressing that internal party meetings with the Prime Minister must remain confidential.
Kishan Reddy reiterated that PM Modi had only advised leaders to remain more active on social media platforms and focus on strengthening the BJP further in Telangana.
Rejecting speculation about other directives, Kishan Reddy said the Prime Minister’s emphasis was solely on organisational strengthening and public outreach.
He also recalled that the southern region of India had already produced two Vice-Presidents, underscoring the importance and contribution of the South in national leadership.
