A picture can speak a thousand words. Which is why the family photograph of Malkajgiri MP Revanth Reddy with Sonia Gandhi has led to speculation about a possible elevation for the Telangana Congress Working President. 

Since the election results, there has been talk of Uttam Kumar Reddy being replaced as PCC chief. With the Congress bleeding thanks to defections to every other party and an aggressive BJP looking to emerge as the principal opposition to the TRS in Telangana, sidelining the Congress, the grand old party has its task cut out.

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The Congress in united Andhra Pradesh has always been a party dominated by the Reddy community. The appointment of G Kishan Reddy as Minister of State for Home in the NDA government is the BJP’s way of making inroads into the community. If Revanth, known to be an aggressive leader is appointed as the PCC chief, the Congress leadership reckons it stands a chance of energising the party in Telangana and ensuring the community does not look for other political options.  

The flip side is that Reddy joined the Congress from the TDP only in 2018 and his many detractors within the party are unlikely to be happy should such an elevation take place. For one, Lok Sabha MP from Bhongir Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has not made any bones about his seniority within the party. If Revanth is made PCC chief, there could be many who could be looking towards the BJP, which is waiting in the wings to poach. 

Incidentally, there have been rumours even about Revanth Reddy jumping ship if he is not suitably rewarded within the party. He has denied them consistently.

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The flip side however, is Revanth’s proximity to Chandrababu Naidu, his former boss in the Telugu Desam. The Congress alliance with the TDP is what cost the party dearly in the Telangana assembly elections in December last year.

Two, Reddy is an accused in the cash-for-votes scam in which he was caught on camera allegedly trying to bribe a nominated MLA to vote for the TDP candidate in the MLC elections. The TRS government is bound to pursue the case diligently if Revanth is made PCC chief.