Revanth Reddy, Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu Among Top Contenders for Telangana Chief Minister

Telangana Chief Minister Race: Congress Leaders Emerge as Frontrunners

The political landscape in India’s youngest state, Telangana, is set to undergo a significant change. Since its establishment in 2014, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), formerly known as the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, has been the ruling party. However, in the recently concluded assembly polls, the Congress party emerged victorious, winning 65 out of the 119 seats, while the BRS managed to secure only 39 seats.

Despite this triumph, the Congress party is yet to announce its Chief Minister candidate. It is expected that the party’s high command will make this announcement in the near future. Meanwhile, three Congress leaders are seen as frontrunners for the top post in Telangana.

Revanth Reddy, the Telangana Congress chief, has faced criticism within the party ranks for his style of functioning. However, the 54-year-old leader effectively led his party to dethrone the BRS in the southern state. His nomination to contest against Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in the elections indicated his growing influence within the state. Since his appointment as Telangana Congress chief in July 2021, Reddy has been actively involved in on-ground activities, leading street protests against the ruling BRS government.

Another prominent contender for the Chief Minister’s position is Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, the Congress Legislature Party leader. He played a crucial role in the party’s intense campaign to overthrow Chief Minister KCR. Prior to the elections, Vikramarka embarked on a 1,400 km padyatra (foot march) across the state, engaging with voters and understanding their concerns. This “People’s March” significantly contributed to the Congress party’s resurgence in Telangana.

Uttam Kumar Reddy, the former head of the Congress’ Telangana unit, is also considered a potential candidate for the Chief Minister’s post. Although he was replaced by Revanth Reddy as the state party chief in July 2021, Reddy remains popular among party workers. He has expressed his willingness to accept any decision made by the party’s high command.

As the state eagerly awaits the Congress party’s decision, the political landscape in Telangana is poised for a significant transformation with the emergence of these three frontrunners for the Chief Minister’s position.