Anumula Revanth Reddy Takes Oath as Telangana's Second Chief Minister after Congress Lands Landslide

In a historical turn of events, Anumula Revanth Reddy, a pivotal figure in Telangana's political landscape, was sworn in as the state's second Chief Minister following the Congress party's resounding win in the November 30 Assembly polls. The swearing-in ceremony, conducted by Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, unfolded at the bustling Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad, witnessed by an awe-inspiring crowd of nearly 100,000 enthusiastic supporters.

Revanth Reddy Sworn Telangana CM, Gandhis Present

Notably, alongside Mr. Reddy, 11 members of his cabinet took the oath, including Mallu Bhatti Vikaramarka, appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister, and N Uttam Kumar Reddy, the former Telangana Congress chief, who initially opposed Revanth Reddy's selection as Chief Minister. The remaining eight members sworn into the cabinet encompassed prominent figures such as Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Damodar Rajanarasimha, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Dana Anasuya, Tummala Nageswar Rao, Konda Surekha, and Jupally Krishna Rao.

The ceremonious occasion drew dignitaries, including the Gandhi family represented by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended congratulations to Mr. Reddy, pledging full support towards Telangana's advancement.

Prior to assuming office, Mr. Reddy, accompanied by Mrs. Gandhi, partook in a victory lap within the stadium, exuberantly showcasing their triumph in an open vehicle.

The Congress party's landslide victory, seizing 65 out of 119 Assembly seats, marked a significant triumph over the incumbent Bharat Rashtra Samithi led by K Chandrashekar Rao, which had governed Telangana since its establishment in 2014.

Revanth Reddy, affectionately dubbed 'Tiger Revanth' by his loyal supporters, has been widely acknowledged for his instrumental role in the Congress's victory. A former TDP stalwart, he defected to the Congress in 2017, subsequently assuming the presidency of the Telangana Congress in 2021.

For the past two years, Mr. Reddy spearheaded an impassioned campaign against the KCR-led administration, spearheading street protests and public demonstrations on numerous issues. These concerted efforts bore fruit as the Congress triumphed over the BRS.

Nevertheless, Mr. Reddy faced internal opposition within the party post-victory, with detractors citing corruption allegations and accusing him of monetary exchanges for electoral tickets. His strategic allocation of tickets to loyalists, crucial for securing MLA support, ultimately garnered the Congress leadership's endorsement for his Chief Ministerial ascension.

Now occupying the Chief Ministerial seat, Mr. Reddy confronts the formidable challenge of delivering on the Congress's electoral promises and laying the groundwork for the impending Lok Sabha elections, slated to occur in six months.