The futility of attempts to 'arrest' the popularity of Congress' Telangana point man

When Anumula Revanth Reddy joined Congress, exactly one year back, nobody imagined that his rise would be meteoric. More so since he had exited the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in disgrace—he was caught on tape allegedly trying to bribe a nominated MLA for influencing the MLC elections in Telangana. He had also spent more than a month in jail in the case, in which Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s name cropped up. The general impression was that with innumerable power centres and Reddy camps existing within the Congress, Revanth would find going tough in his new political residence.

Cut to 2018. The two-time MLA of Kodangal is the mass leader that Congress desperately needs. The 49-year-old has been made the working president, bypassing many senior aspirants, and is now a star campaigner for the party. At any Congress event, Revanth’s speeches evoke great response from the cadre. His stinging criticism and sharp rhetoric are major hits. On more than one occasion, the Congress high command got a taste of his grassroots sway. At a public meeting held in Medchal on the city outskirts last month, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were in attendance. Revanth got the most cheer when compared to other local or national leaders at the meet. 

After his every trial in the dock, Revanth emerged more powerful than before. Recently, there were raids by income tax officials on his Hyderabad residence, when he was busy campaigning in his constituency. The raids continued for 48 hours even after he returned. This generated sympathy among his supporters and he used this opportunity to accuse the ruling party of targeting him. The stature of Revanth Reddy grew in the following days to such an extent that he is now one of the few leaders flying in choppers, hopping from one meeting to another, responding to requests from other candidates of the ‘Mahakutami’. 

However, a recent incident has further elevated the star image of Revanth. According to sources, the Congress leader was trying his best to make sure that people in large numbers do not attend the public meeting of caretaker chief minister and TRS founder K. Chandrashekar Rao in his constituency. Grand feasts were arranged in different villages while Revant had given a bandh call, which prompted TRS to lodge a complaint with the election commission. 

In the wee hours of Tuesday, Revant Reddy was taken into preventive custody. The visuals of Revant forcibly taken away by police from his bedroom, after breaking open the doors, had its impact. The Congress leaders projected it as a direct attack on the opposition parties by the ruling TRS. Almost every senior leader of Congress campaigning in Telangana condemned the incident. The state unit of the party threatened to drag the chief election officer to court. The family members and Congress party workers questioned why no arrest warrant or legal documents were furnished before Revanth was bundled into the police vehice.

As the public meeting of caretaker chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao got underway, Revanth Reddy was freed. Chief electoral officer Rajat Sharma instructed the state DGP to release him. Political analysts feel this was a costly mistake for KCR and his party. Because of the police action, the limelight is firmly on the Congress leader. Even within the party, Revanth has consolidated his position, all thanks to the early morning drama. It is almost assured now that if Congress and its allies come to power in Telangana, Revanth will be the person to watch out for. In less than ten years, Revanth went from an MLC to MLA, working Congress president, to one of the main contenders of the chief minister’s post.