Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has triggered a fresh political controversy with sharp remarks against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party relies politically on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi while publicly projecting a different ideological narrative.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, February 9, Revanth Reddy said that despite frequently invoking Lord Ram, the BJP’s real political “lifeline” was Asaduddin Owaisi. “If you analyse the history of the BJP, you will find that for them there is only one god—Asaduddin Owaisi. They take the name of Lord Ram casually, but they bow to Owaisi every day,” the Chief Minister said.
BJP Uses Owaisi as Political Tool, Says Reddy
Revanth Reddy alleged that the BJP repeatedly uses Owaisi as a political instrument to polarise voters. Comparing him to a “magic lamp,” the Chief Minister claimed the BJP invokes Owaisi’s name whenever it needs to mobilise votes through fear and religious polarisation.
He argued that a comparison of BJP speeches would show how often Owaisi is mentioned versus religious symbolism, suggesting that the AIMIM leader plays a central role in the BJP’s electoral strategy.
Questions Over ‘Demonising’ Owaisi
The Telangana CM also questioned the narrative of portraying Owaisi as a constant threat. Addressing the media, Reddy asked why successive governments have failed to “control” him if he is indeed such a major villain, as often projected.
“In a democracy, AIMIM is a recognised political party. It contests elections, wins in some places and loses in others. It has won seats in states like West Bengal and contested in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. For how long will you keep projecting him as a ghost just to seek votes?” he said.
Reddy criticised what he described as a “poverty of thinking” in politics that survives by inciting religious hatred and demonising leaders of certain parties. He urged the people of Telangana to reflect on whether such politics deserved their support.
Changing Political Equations in Telangana
The remarks come amid visible changes in political equations within Telangana. During the 2023 Assembly elections, Revanth Reddy and Asaduddin Owaisi were openly critical of each other. However, after the Congress came to power, Reddy has spoken of working with AIMIM on development-related issues and has publicly acknowledged Owaisi’s role in Hyderabad politics.
While there is no formal alliance between the Congress and AIMIM in the state, observers note a growing pragmatism and issue-based cooperation between the two sides, particularly in urban governance.
Revanth Reddy’s comments are being seen as part of a broader attempt to counter the BJP’s political narrative by turning its alleged strategy back on itself, ahead of upcoming electoral battles in the region.
