HYDERABAD: In a major political shift in the southern state of Telangana, state Congress President A Revanth Reddy took oath as the first Chief Minister from the Grand Old Party in the youngest Indian state.
Alongside Reddy, nine members of his cabinet also took their oath of office, including Mallu Bhatti Vikaramarka, who was sworn in as the Deputy CM. The eight others to join the cabinet are Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Damodar Rajanarasimha, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Dana Anasuya, Tummala Nageswar Rao, Konda Surekha and Jupally Krishna Rao.
The ceremony was attended by the entirety of the party’s top echelon with former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, current party President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Sivakumar, attending his swearing-in.
FLASH: After being sworn in as Telangana CM, the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy signed two files.
The first one is a file to implement 6 poll guarantees and the second file to providing job for T Rajini, a person with disabilities. She is a postgraduate.
Reports: @Viveknarayan805… pic.twitter.com/0VURMqWL1L
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 7, 2023
Interestingly, minutes before the swearing-in ceremony took place, the new CM sent bulldozers to the Pragathi Bhavan to remove the iron fencing which was erected during the rule of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government in 2014. The move was then criticised by many who had accused the former CM K Chandrashekhar Rao of trying to ‘close the door’ on the media and the common man who sought access to the CM’s office.
Reddy during his campaign had promised to ensure that the new CMO could be accessed by the public without silencing the voice of the media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Reddy on the occasion too, while assuring full support towards Telangana’s progress.
FLASH: Anumula Revanth Reddy, Telangana Congress Chief, to take oath as the new Chief Minister of Telangana in a grand ceremony at LB Stadium in Hyderabad today.
He sent Bulldozer at Pragathi Bhavan to remove the huge fencing, barricades as he promised gates of the chief… pic.twitter.com/vNupNn6q9g
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 7, 2023
Reddy, referred to as Tiger Revanth by his supporters, has been credited to have played a major role in the Grand Old Party’s resurgence in the state. A former Telugu Desam Party leader, Reddy switched to the Congress in 2017. He was appointed as the TPCC President in 2021.
Over the past two years, the Telangana CM had led an aggressive campaign against the KCR-led government, leading street protests and public demonstrations over a host of issues. The Congress’s efforts bore fruit with the party trumping over the BRS where it won 65 seat while the BRS had to contend with 39 seats.
However, when the party was deciding upon the CM, Reddy faced an insurmountable challenge in the form of detractors who opposed his elevation. They pointed to corruption allegations against him, accusing him of taking money in exchange for poll tickets. However, on December 5, the top brass at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in Delhi assured full support to the TPCC chief.