Delhi high command or Party Discipline? A New Debate on Telangana’s Self-Respect”
Recently, a photo has gone viral on social media. In that picture, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, the Congress state in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, and a few other leaders are seen sitting before the Delhi leader K.C. Venugopal. Some say, “It’s just a party meeting,” while others argue, “It’s a scene that insults Telangana’s self-respect.”
What is the real message behind this photo? Is it truly an insult? Or just part of national political culture?
What Does Telangana’s Self-Respect Mean?
The Telangana movement was not merely a geographical issue — It was a struggle for dignity, self-determination, and self-respect. For decades, the criticism of “Delhi domination” or “Andhra hegemony” burned in the hearts of the people. That is why, after Telangana became a separate state, every leader has repeatedly said —
“We will make our own decisions for our own state.”
But now, on social media, that same sense of self-respect is being questioned again.
The Political Symbolism in the Photo
In the photo, K.C. Venugopal sits at the main seat, facing Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and another leader, while state in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan is seated nearby.
However, Congress leaders interpret this picture differently.
According to them —
“This is an internal party meeting. It’s part of party discipline. There is no difference between CM, minister, or leader — everyone here is a soldier of the Congress party.”
But in the minds of the people, one question remains —
“Is even the Chief Minister of Telangana merely a party soldier?”
Delhi high command’ Domination: A Mirror of History
This is not the first time. In 2004, when Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy served as Congress Chief Minister, there were also occasions when he had to bow before Delhi leaders.
Later, Chief Ministers like Rosaiah and Kiran Kumar Reddy faced the same situation. It has long been part of Congress culture for the central leadership’s decisions to influence state governments.
But in Telangana, this issue carries a special emotional weight —
Because this state was born for the sake of self-respect.
Revanth Reddy: The Leader Who Rose on Self-Respect
From the day Revanth Reddy entered the Congress party, people saw him as a fighter, a mass leader, and the voice of Telangana.
Now, seeing that same Revanth Reddy seated before Delhi leaders has surprised many.
Some social media users wrote:
“Our CM represents the entire Telangana, but do Delhi leaders summon him to lecture him?”
“Making the Telangana CM sit like an ordinary leader is an insult.”
Others, however, have a different view:
“Revanth Reddy attended as part of party discipline. It was a simple office meeting — calling it an insult is not correct.”
The Culture of Hierarchy Within Congress
The Congress party, with its 140-year history, has a clear hierarchy and command structure.
Every state Chief Minister must obey the directives of the AICC leadership.
For example —
Punjab Chief Ministers have often sat before Sonia Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge in discussions.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah too has participated in meetings in a similar manner.
So, Revanth Reddy participating in this meeting under the same protocol is not unusual.
But the difference is this —
Telangana people are extremely sensitive about self-respect.
The Core Question: Power or Dignity?
On one hand, Revanth Reddy is a highly popular Chief Minister among the people.
On the other hand, he is also a leader who must function within a national party’s structure.
It’s a delicate balance to maintain.
As he himself once said —
“I am a symbol of Telangana’s pride, but I am also a soldier of the Congress party.”
Yet in the eyes of the people, dignity is symbolic.
The way he sat, the posture, the atmosphere of that meeting —
These visual cues were framed by social media as a “sign of diminished respect.”
The Message from Telangana to Delhi
This incident carries an important message.
The people of Telangana will no longer accept the old political model of
“Delhi gives orders — Hyderabad obeys.”
They do not want their leader to be seen as subordinate to national leaders.
If the Congress high command ignores this sentiment,
the self-respect it won in 2023 could turn into defeat by 2028.
Conclusion
Revanth Reddy has won the hearts of Telangana people with his courage, boldness, and clear speech.
But winning people’s respect is easier than preserving it.
The Congress national leadership must understand the emotional pulse of Telangana.
The Chief Minister of Telangana is not just a party leader —
He is the embodiment of the state’s self-respect.
Delhi may give its orders,
but no one can suppress the self-respect that beats in the heart of Telangana.
“In Telangana, born for the sake of self-respect,
it’s not the height of the chair that matters —
the final say must always belong to Telangana.”
https://inc.in/leadership/shri-mallikarjun-kharge
– By Veeramusti Sathish, M.A. (J.M.C.)
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