HYDERABAD — Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has launched a scathing counter-offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dismissing its claims of forming the next government in the state in 2028. Speaking at a public meeting in Hyderabad, Reddy drew parallels to the BJP’s electoral campaigns in West Bengal, reminding them that their continuous political push there took 15 years without yielding their desired results.
The Chief Minister’s aggressive remarks came in direct response to assertions made by BJP National President Nitin Nabin, who recently told party workers that the state would see a “double-engine government” after the 2028 assembly polls.
Challenging the Centre’s 12-Year Governance Record
Turning his attention to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister challenged the BJP to an open, performance-based debate rather than relying on the Prime Minister’s personal image to win elections. He proposed a direct comparison between the BJP’s 12-year tenure at the Centre, the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) administration’s decade-long rule, and his own government’s two-and-a-half-year track record.
Reddy heavily criticized the Union Government for unfulfilled promises:
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Economic Pledges: He questioned the status of the promised ₹15 lakh in the bank accounts of the poor.
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Agricultural & Employment Targets: He highlighted the lack of visible results regarding the doubling of farmers’ income and the annual creation of two crore jobs.
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Over-Reliance on a Single Face: Reddy criticized the BJP for projecting PM Modi even in local governance polls, stating, “Whether it is a ward election, a sarpanch poll, or a municipality, they ask for votes saying Modi is coming. Elections should be fought on the work done by local leaders.”
Double-Edged Attack on BRS Legacy
The Chief Minister did not spare his predecessor and BRS president, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), accusing the former administration of severely damaging the socio-cultural fabric of Telangana by actively promoting liquor sales.
Reddy alleged that the previous BRS regime left behind a legacy of institutionalized alcoholism, stating that “belt shops” (unauthorized liquor outlets) had penetrated every street and locality, exposing even children to substance abuse and causing widespread distress to local families and women.
The BJP’s Direct Volley
The political war of words intensified following BJP National President Nitin Nabin’s addresses to party workers in Warangal and the state executive body in Hyderabad. Nabin had accused the ruling Congress government of failing to deliver on its electoral guarantees, alleged high-level corruption via a localized “RR Tax,” and vocalized the party’s strong opposition to Muslim reservations as part of its grassroots expansion strategy.
