Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Thursday made a public appeal for Rahul Gandhi, the current Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, to step into the role of prime minister. Speaking during an event marking the 174th birth anniversary of Panduga Sayanna Mudiraj, a significant figure in the struggle for the rights of backward classes, Reddy emphasised that Gandhi’s leadership is necessary to secure justice for marginalised communities and to drive national progress.
Reddy remarked that the country is currently at a critical juncture and asserted that it is time for members of the Nehru family to take direct responsibility for the nation's future. During his address, he pointed out that the family had multiple opportunities to hold the office of prime minister following the death of Rajiv Gandhi but chose to support other leaders instead. According to reports from the news agency PTI, Reddy stated, "Rahul Gandhi should become prime minister if justice is to be done to the backward classes. They could have become long ago had they wanted it. After Rajiv Gandhi's death, Congress came to power many times."
In addition to his political call, the Chief Minister addressed specific welfare demands within Telangana. He announced that his government would establish a cabinet sub-committee to formally examine the request to move the Mudiraj community from its current BC-D classification into the BC-A category. Reddy indicated that the proposal will be placed before the next cabinet meeting, where it will undergo review by legal experts and government officials. He also instructed the Minister for Backward Classes Welfare, Ponnam Prabhakar, to hold discussions with other communities, such as the Gangaputras, to ensure that reservation benefits are distributed equitably.
The Chief Minister highlighted his administration's commitment to social welfare by pointing to the ongoing caste survey initiated by the state government. He argued that the data gathered from this survey has empowered various communities to voice their grievances and concerns more effectively. Furthermore, Reddy compared current welfare efforts to historical initiatives, noting that while former undivided Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao introduced a scheme providing rice at two rupees per kilogram, his own administration is now providing fine-quality rice free of cost to approximately 3.48 crore people through the Public Distribution System.
Reddy maintained that his government remains committed to continuing the progressive policies adopted by previous administrations, including those of former Chief Ministers N. Chandrababu Naidu, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and K. Chandrasekhar Rao. He called on citizens to set aside their personal or political differences to make a constructive choice in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, framing the decision as vital for the nation's path forward.
Beyond governance and policy, the event also served as a moment to honour regional figures. Reddy announced plans to install statues of prominent Telangana personalities, specifically mentioning Panduga Sayanna and Doddi Komuraiah, at Tank Bund. This move is part of a broader government effort to celebrate the state's cultural and historical legacy while maintaining a focus on current legislative and social agendas.
As the debate surrounding political leadership and social justice continues, Reddy's explicit endorsement of Gandhi signals a hardening of his administration's alignment with the national Congress leadership. The government's focus on the caste survey and the potential restructuring of reservation quotas are expected to remain central issues in the state's political discourse in the coming months.
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