Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has consolidated his position within the Congress and the state administration following the party’s emphatic victory in the Jubilee Hills bypoll.
What was seen as a crucial test of his leadership has now turned into a major boost, strengthening his grip on the government and silencing internal dissent as well as criticism from the Opposition.
The win carries even more weight given the backdrop of murmurs within the Congress and sharp attacks from the BRS.
Senior leaders; including a couple of ministers; had indirectly expressed dissatisfaction, while BRS working president KTR went as far as predicting that Revanth would be removed by his own party members. Instead, the result has delivered the exact opposite effect.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said the victory was “a slap on KTR’s face,” noting that voters rejected the narrative that the public was angry with the government.
He credited the Chief Minister’s close monitoring of the campaign and firm poll management for the landslide win, adding that the Congress is now confident of sweeping the upcoming local body elections.
Breaking past trends of delegating bypoll campaigns to local leaders, Revanth Reddy took full charge.
He appointed ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Tummala Nageswara Rao, and G. Vivek as in-charges well in advance, energising the cadre and giving the campaign a sharper direction.
Despite pressure from within the party, he stood firmly behind candidate Naveen Yadav and fast-tracked key infrastructure works in the constituency, strengthening the message that Yadav’s victory was essential for development.
Throughout the 20-day campaign, Revanth personally covered every division in Jubilee Hills, even as BRS workers attempted to disrupt his visits.
He ensured continued on-ground presence of ministers and public representatives, creating momentum in the densely populated constituency.
A major part of his strategy involved securing minority votes. Revanth reached out beyond traditional AIMIM influence, connecting directly with community leaders.
A key meeting organised by his confidant Fayeem Qureshi played a pivotal role.
Qureshi, who has gained significant prominence after the bypoll win, said the Chief Minister personally addressed long-pending issues of the community. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi later acknowledged Qureshi’s efforts publicly.
Revanth also surprised many by inducting Md Azharuddin into the Cabinet at a strategic moment, a move widely seen as part of his minority outreach.
Another unexpected advantage for the Chief Minister came from public support for HYDRAA; his initiative aimed at removing encroachments from water bodies and protecting government land.
Although KTR tried to frame the bypoll as a referendum on HYDRAA, voters dismissed the narrative. “People have seen the results of our work,” a senior police official said.
Barely hours after the bypoll win, Revanth held an extensive review meeting on Telangana Rising 2047, his flagship plan to turn the state into a $3 trillion economy by the time India completes 100 years of independence.
With financing models now set for mega projects like Musi rejuvenation and Future City, sources say the Chief Minister is gearing up to push his ambitious development roadmap aggressively in the coming year.
With the bypoll victory, Revanth Reddy not only strengthened his leadership but also sent a clear message; he is firmly in control, confident, and ready to drive Telangana’s next big leap.
