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Revanth Reddy vision for Telangana. what one might call a “nuanced” relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As the chief minister of Telangana, he must engage with Modi, respect his position and work with him for the development of the state. But as a Congress leader, he doesn’t hesitate to launch scathing attacks against the man who has dominated Indian politics for over a decade.
“I respect and cooperate with the prime minister. But from my party platform, I criticise Narendra Modi,” he said, articulating the balancing act regional leaders must perform in a country where political and administrative lines often blur. His stance was neither obsequious nor outright rebellious. It was pragmatic, the kind of realpolitik that leaders in Opposition-ruled states have learned to master.
If Modi’s ‘Gujarat model’ of governance is a Test match: slow, calculated and attritional; then Reddy’s Telangana model is a Twenty20 game: fast-paced, aggressive and constantly innovating. “The Gujarat model is a Test match model. Telangana model is the Twenty20 model. It is the model for the country,” Reddy declared. It was a clever analogy, one that immediately resonated with an audience that understands the power of speed and adaptability in modern governance.
Reddy’s argument was simple: Telangana isn’t looking to replicate Gujarat’s trajectory. Instead, it wants to be a state that embodies rapid growth, dynamic governance and progressive policies. It wants to be an agile competitor in the national economy rather than a plodding follower.
Reddy also accused Modi of favouring Gujarat when it comes to attracting investments. “Even though Modi is the prime minister, he is not helping to bring investment to all parts of the country. Anyone who comes to India goes to Gujarat and invest in what the prime minister says,” he alleged.
Reddy’s frustration was evident. Telangana, despite being one of the fastest-growing states, has struggled to get the same preferential treatment that Gujarat enjoys from the central government. It was a pointed charge, one that raises uncomfortable questions about whether economic policies are being shaped by political considerations rather than pure developmental priorities.
One of Reddy’s more politically explosive statements was on delimitation: the potential redrawing of parliamentary constituencies. He believes the BJP is using it as a tool to ‘punish’ the South. “The BJP has no representation in the South. Thus, it is taking revenge through a weapon called delimitation,” he argued.
Reddy’s concern is that states like Telangana, which have implemented successful population-control measures, might end up losing seats in Parliament while states with higher population growth might gain more representation. This, he warned, would create a fundamental imbalance in the federal structure of India. He urged the central government to convene an all-party meeting on the matter, while knowing well that the BJP, which stands to benefit, is unlikely to entertain such a discussion.
Reddy’s ambition for Hyderabad is grander than what most chief ministers dare to dream. “I am not going to compete with Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru or Delhi. I am going to compete with New York, Seoul and other countries,” he proclaimed.
Reddy’s vision is backed by concrete plans, including the establishment of the Future City Development Authority, which aims to build a world-class urban hub over 30,000 acres. But what truly caught the audience’s attention was his announcement of Hyderabad’s bid for the Olympics.
Reddy revealed his government has officially sent a representation to the central government, proposing Hyderabad as a host city for the Olympics directly challenging the Modi government’s push for Ahmedabad. He argued that Hyderabad possesses superior infrastructure and capacity compared to Ahmedabad and many other Indian cities. “We have the sporting infrastructure, international connectivity and the ability to host global events at scale,” he asserted.
Reddy pointed to Hyderabad’s well-planned urban expansion, world-class IT hubs and emerging sports ecosystem as key reasons why the city is better suited for an event of such magnitude.
By pitching Hyderabad against Ahmedabad, Reddy framed his proposal as more than just a sporting bidit was a statement on regional equity, governance priorities and Telangana’s readiness to compete not just nationally but globally. His push for the Olympics was as much about Telangana’s ambition as it was about challenging what he sees as the central government’s Gujarat-centric approach to development.
Interestingly, for a leader who fiercely defends regional identities, Reddy has a deeply personal connection with Hindi. Unlike many southern politicians who reject Hindi as an imposition, he chose to learn it. “I learnt Hindi because I had no other choice. I had to survive,” he admitted candidly.
Coming from a small town in Telangana, he realised early on that Hindi would open doors in politics and governance. “If you don’t know Hindi, you are left out of many conversations in Delhi,” he said
CM Revanth Reddy sees Hindi not as a cultural imposition but as a practical necessity that helped him navigate India’s political corridors. Yet, he firmly opposes the idea of making it the “national language”. “Hindi is the most spoken language in India, but it is not the national language,” he reminded his audience, reinforcing his belief that linguistic diversity should be respected rather than erased.
Telangana’s Twenty20 model is still in its early overs. Whether it will win the game or collapse under pressure remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Revanth Reddy has arrived, and he’s playing to win.
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