Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy cautioned that India’s federal balance and governance outcomes would determine whether citizens, particularly in southern States, are treated as equal stakeholders or reduced to “second-grade citizens”.

In a conversation with The Hindu Group Director N. Ram at the two-day The Hindu Huddle in Bengaluru on ‘By, for, and of the people: Good governance for Telangana’, the Chief Minister said southern States would not accept an imbalance in political power distribution.

The BJP, he alleged, was trying hard to widen this gap through the delimitation process, and linking it to women’s reservation to hide the core issue. “The Congress is ready even now for the implementation of the women’s reservation Bill if it is the primary intention,” he said.

Also read: Click here to see our live updates from Day 2 of The Hindu Huddle

He credited the Congress with playing a historic role in women’s empowerment and said women have consistently played a crucial part in landmark political and social transformations in the country. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, as the “Iron Lady”, liberated Bangladesh from Pakistan, and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi “courageously took a decision on separate Telangana”, Mr. Reddy said.

During the wide-ranging conversation, the Chief Minister said that Telangana is positioning itself as a global investment destination and not limiting its competitiveness to neighbouring States. “We are not competing with Maharashtra or Andhra Pradesh. We are competing with China, Japan, South Korea, and Germany,” he said, adding that his approach follows a ‘China+1’ strategy to attract global investments.

Mr. Reddy said he actively studies international best practices and is open to learning from multiple sources, including officials on the ground. He plans to visit China and learn best practices that could be implemented in Telangana as it shapes itself into a “China+1” destination. Mr. Reddy said.

He also referred to his participation in a short course at Harvard University, saying exposure to global systems helps refine policy thinking.

Public servant, not a ruler

Positioning himself as a public servant rather than a ruler, the Chief Minister said governance must remain people-centric. “Whoever gets power thinks they are rulers. I believe I am an elected public servant,” he said, identifying youth, farmers, and women as the key pillars of society.

Explaining his administrative approach, the Chief Minister said decision-making in his government is “mixed”, combining bureaucratic inputs, field-level insights, media feedback, and public opinion. “Ultimately, I take the call after listening to everyone and their suggestions,” he said.

Mr. Reddy also said he values information from media reports, public interactions, and ground-level workers, describing media as a “back-office information system” for governance review.

Reflecting on his political journey, the Chief Minister said his entry into public life was driven by grassroots engagement rather than legacy support. He recalled resigning from his earlier political position following Telangana’s bifurcation and rebuilding his career independently. “I have fought for the common man. I don’t have any brand or inherited support,” he said.

His political philosophy, he said, is governance focused on youth, farmers, and women as core stakeholders. He traced unemployment concerns in Telangana to historical and structural issues and said his government is committed to addressing job creation through both public and private sector expansion.

Welfare initiatives

Highlighting major recruitment and welfare initiatives, he said Telangana has filled over 67,000 government posts in 15 months, describing it as one of the largest recruitment drives in the country. On agriculture, he cited large-scale loan waivers and procurement reforms, claiming that over 25,000 farmer families benefited from ₹20,616 crore worth of loan waivers. He also pointed to procurement support, input subsidies, and farmer incentive schemes introduced by the government.

The Chief Minister said women’s empowerment remains a central pillar of governance in Telangana. He said self-help groups (SHGs) comprising 67 lakh women have been actively engaged in economic activities, including transport services, renewable energy projects, petrol bunks, and school management services.

The Hindu Huddle is presented by the Sami-Sabinsa Group as the Presenting Partner. The event is co-powered by the Government of Telangana and held in association with Khaja Bandanawaz University.

The event is further supported by Bank of Baroda, Larsen & Toubro, Apollo Hospitals, IIM Sirmaur, ICFAI Group, TAFE, Wizzmon, Uttarakhand Government, Associate Partners; Casagrand, Realty Partner; Toyota, Luxury Car Partner; Amity University Bengaluru, University Partner; Harrow International School Bengaluru, Education Partner; Meghalaya Tourism, State Partner; and NDTV 24x7, TV Partner.

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