These days, Andhra Jyothy Managing Director Vemuri Radhakrishna has been writing sharp and stinging articles against the Congress leadership in his Sunday column Toli Paluku. More often than not, his pieces sound logical and grounded in political reality.
This Sunday too, Radhakrishna wrote about how Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is struggling to keep the Congress flock together and reconcile warring factions within his cabinet.
He also stressed the need for the Congress high command to give Revanth more freedom to control his ministers and party leaders; similar to the leadership style of the late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy.
According to Radhakrishna, Revanth Reddy is under pressure because of this lack of autonomy.
In a recent cabinet meeting, Revanth is said to have openly expressed displeasure with his ministers for staying silent in the face of an intense negative campaign from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
He reportedly reprimanded his cabinet colleagues for over an hour, questioning why none of them had defended the government or countered personal attacks from the opposition.
He reminded them that he had given them complete freedom and respected senior leaders, but their silence during political attacks was troubling.
“When the ship sinks, everyone will go down with it,” Revanth reportedly warned, hinting that if K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and the BRS regain power, complacent ministers will face serious consequences.
Recently, a section of the media; allegedly fed by the BRS; claimed that AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary K C Venugopal were unhappy with Revanth’s leadership.
However, Congress leaders in Telangana failed to defend their chief minister, and the party high command remained silent, neither denying nor clarifying the reports.
This lack of response has fueled perceptions that both the government and the party lack direction. Within the cabinet, some ministers are said to be acting like chief ministers of their own districts, adding to the disarray.
Radhakrishna warned that such indiscipline and lack of clear communication from Delhi could further weaken the party.
He also noted that Revanth’s decision on BC reservations, reportedly taken without full legal vetting, backfired and allowed the opposition to corner the government.
Despite the criticism, party insiders admit there is no viable alternative to Revanth Reddy within the Telangana Congress.
“If Revanth goes, the Congress government could collapse,” said a senior functionary, urging the high command to publicly support him.
Analysts say unless the AICC takes firm action and reins in rebellious ministers, the Congress risks undoing its recent political gains.
“If this drift continues,” one strategist warned, “Telangana could slip back to KCR’s hands sooner than expected.”
