AnumulaRevanth Reddy, Member of Parliament from MedchalMalkajgiri and president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, is a die-hard optimist when it comes to his vision for the rump of the party he is now heading. In a freewheeling interview with The Pioneer’s Naveena Ghanate, the 53-year-old politician speaks about his two-decade-long journey in the rough and tumble of politics.
A tough nut to crack when he is revved in opposition to any policy of the ruling party; Revanthspeaks about quality time, leaving TDP for the Congress, and taking on the KCR regime, apart from sharing eye-openers from his Hath Se Hath Jodo Padayatra.
Demolished own house against mom’s wish
I was born in KondareddyPalli of Mahbubnagar district. I studied in ZPHS Wanaparthy. I was quite studious; in my class, I was topper. I did Bachelor of Arts from A. V. College. I was part of students’ organisations and used to do very aggressive activities. If I am aggressive in politics now, you should understand. Of course, I was a naughty boy all along, though I wouldn’t get caught at home; so, hardly got beatings or scoldings.
My mother wanted to stay in a 300-year-old house. It was made of mud and it was getting difficult to maintain it. She wasnot ready to come and stay with us in Hyderabad. Once I asked her to come to Hyderabad for a few days and then in her absence, got the house demolished. She felt very bad. But until then she used to stay alone there.
Brother’s dream
Winning and losing elections is part of the game. But when I am with my family, I feel very happy. We are seven brothers and my oldest brother is everything for our family. My eldest brother isnot there today to see my success. It was my brother’s wish to see that I become MLA or leader and that our family should have such representative. It was his biggest dream to see me politically succeed. He died at the age of 56 due to heart stroke.
I keep thinking in many situations, if he were here, it would have been very nice. He was determined that someone from our familyshould have political influence. Parents’ demise is another sad moment, but it is part of life.
Love marriage
Mine was love marriage with Geetha. I used to visit her college and try my luck to woo her. Marriage is just a part of life, though people think marriage itself is life. To move forward in life, we need to work very hard. I am happy as I have achieved everything. I don’t have regrets in life. My life is going on in a comfortable, composed manner. I have got more than what I had wanted.
Beautiful bonding with daughter
Bonding with my daughter Nymisha is very nice. I am not a strict father. My daughter never put herself in a situation where I have to beat or scold her. Normally I believe in counselling more. Not just her, I believe in talking and explaining in detail. Being away from family is part of the political game. Definitely anyone will have family attachment.
But when we take responsibility, we must sacrifice something, especially family. Political families must prepare for sacrifices, especially when we are getting recognition and respect. Even those who had studied with me don’t have celebrity status like a leader or command respect. We have to make sacrifices; it is part of life.
20years in opposition
I was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) as an independent candidate, and later I joined TDP. It is a fact that I am called a TDP person even to this day. TDP is like my mom’s place and Congress is my in-laws’ place. I came from TDP to Congress; so, how can I deny the truth and why should I? I switched for strong reasons.
In my fight against KCR’s rule, I joined the Congress. There are multiple factors, but I joined Congress in the interests of the state: to stop an atrocious person like KCR. I didnot go to party in power, I went to opposition. All these 20years, I have been in opposition. I am happy being in opposition as I get a chance to fight for people everytime. I want the party I am in to come to power. I don’t want to bargain and goto a party that is already in power. It is not individual politics.
‘Cash for vote’ means nothing for me
The ‘cash for vote’ scandal is something everyone speaks about but it has changed nothing for me. There are 130 FIRs and criminal charges cases against me, and this is just one of them. Before people questioned me on ‘cash for vote’ case, 37Congress MLAs, MLCs were taken away by KCR and KTR. Even in recent days also three out of four who went to BRS, faced issues on the same lines. So, when KCR, KTR want to speak about ‘cash for vote’,first their hands need to be clean.
They should show their integrity and then lay charge against anyone. If this issue were to have impact on people, I wouldn’t have won the elections after that. After ‘cash for vote’ happened, I faced elections, I won and there is massive acceptance from people. For questions on ‘cash for vote’ raised by opponents, people are responding. I need not explain or elaborate anything to them, especially when people are voting for me. From 2014-2023, if we go through their party policies or decisions; on the one hand, they make the same allegations against me while on other hand they do the same thing. Here they have no scope to talk because they have nothing else against me.
Being powerful in opposition
People in power claim that I am making them sleepless or blackmailing them. They should prove that. I am truthful that’s why I am being powerful despite being in opposition. I believe in truth; that’s why they are sleepless. If I compromise, there won’t be issues. If a decision is taken in government, I have to collect all my information – my confidential sources is one aspect, another is RTI – a common man’s weapon.
Whenever and wherever I have collected all this information, I arrange it chronologically, keep it before press persons, and distribute it in public. As a public representative, I am accountable. I will give information to public and media about government decisions and loopholes with evidence. Anybody can blackmail if the other person has done wrong. But here I am exposing openly in public.
I am celebrity
As a leader, I respect Chandrababu Naidu. In political scenario, I don’t cross party lines or keep relations with other parties. Allegations of relations with other parties keep coming against me because I am celebrity and the centre of attraction. There is focus on me, that’s why these issues of business with other parties come into discussion.
If I wasn’t a celebrity, why will people care about businesses? It is easy to make charges but difficult to prove. In these 20years, I have been in opposition; never was I in the government. But I always fight with them, everyday — on hourly basis. But they are unable to prove, especially those who want to frame charges against me. Why are they not able to prove despite being in power?
Nobody has 100% acceptance
Internal bickering in any political party is not out of the box. In any political party any person won’t have 100percent acceptance. 51% prevails in democracy. Even when you are forming the government, all you need is 51%. Some of them will initially accept or reject, but once the party takes a decision, everyone will fall in line. I am not worried.
As part of hath se hath jodo, campaigns were designed for PCC, CLP and campaign committee chairman who play a key role in party. Average 40 Assembly constituencies we have to cover, as directed by AICC. Party approach is that on all sides of the state there should be activity. So that’s the party approach. And if someone else is doing padayatra, as a president I approved; it is party strategy.
Kaleshwaram an eyeopener
In Padayatra physical fitness is not much of concern and I don’t see any difference as I play football. So, it is not out of my routine. Issues-wise people from different segments come and give representations. But when it comes to personal experience, it is something different. There is no housing scheme, MSP for farmers, podu lands or loan waiver;caste-based occupations & weavers have seen destruction after the formation of Telangana.
‘Kaleshwaram is completed and I am giving water’ is what the Chief Minister says. But it is an ornamental argument. The Kaleshwaram project during my Padayatra was an eye-opener. Even I was among those who believed that the project was completed, though ayacut didnot change. In Siricilla, 9th package, Nizamabad 20,21,22 package and like that many packages are only 79-80% complete. These have come to standstill.
A project started at Rs 38,000 crore went up to Rs 1.4lakh crores, and still the works are pending. It is a serious fraud to claim: ‘The Kaleshwaram project is complete and I am giving water’. Seeing is believing, personal experience. The project and the packages need serious review
Women are very receptive
During Padayatra, unexpectedly the women section turnaround is good. Generally, we connect to political animals. I generally connect with youth; yet,senior citizens and women recognise and talk to me. I ask them if they know me, my name. They recognise me.
For a leader, we need to connect to all sections. I used to think that I am not well-known among women and pensioners and my picture is not among them. But it is a realisation that it is not the case. Electronic media, social media, people know me; they identify me and my party. Even in rural and tribal backgrounds, they know me as a leader. I feel happy that there is reach.
Opponents keeping me in politics
Whenever I see the happenings under KCR, especially the political happenings after formation of the state, at least weekly once I think of leaving politics. Then in the fight with KCR, I am continuing to be in the field, sort of my opponent is keeping my ambition alive.
It has become a danger bell for people who do mainstream politics after the formation of Telangana. KCR has destroyed Telangana and I can never forgive him. Doing politics to win is not wrong, but trying to wipe out political parties and taking over is horrible. In many instances, hardcore loyalists for whom the party has done everything and they have travelled along, leave the party. During such instances I wonder if I should be in politics.
But then if people like me — those who came from student organisations – leave politics, it would be a loss for the nation. Same thing inspires me again the next day to work more. There is no personal enmity with KCR, but his system and ways are spiteful. He tried to demolish the entire system. I have read a lot of books, seen a lot of criminals, even the worst kind of criminals have not done much to destroy like what KCR has done. For Telangana, this is horrible.
Quick bytes
Fav colour – black
Fav movie – Dalapathi
Fav actor / actress – once upon a time Krishna
Fav song – I listen to lot of songs, Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar
Food – non-veg – especially chicken – naatukodi
Holiday destination- I regularly goto America
Fav politician – Me
