Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of Telangana addressed the Muslim community at an Iftar event, reaffirming the Congress government’s commitment to protect the interests of all communities. Reddy assured that the 4% quota for socially and economically backward Muslims in the state would be safeguarded. He further stated that the Congress government would work towards the development of Telangana and Hyderabad, bringing together Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and all communities. Reddy also reminded Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they could not repeal the 4% Muslim quota initiated by the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the former Congress Chief Minister of the undivided state.
In a direct remark towards PM Modi, Reddy’s statement came on the same day when the Prime Minister was present in Hyderabad for a roadshow. The Congress party in Greater Hyderabad is determined to win the hearts of the city voters ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. They aim to secure three out of the four Lok Sabha seats in the region, excluding the Hyderabad seat currently held by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
The long-term goal for the Congress party is to prepare for the GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) elections scheduled for December 2025, as well as the upcoming elections in the surrounding municipalities. The Congress party believes that the development projects undertaken during their tenure, such as flyovers, bridges, elevated corridors, and Metro expansion plans, played a significant role in the BRS (Bharatiya Rashtravadi Samanta) winning 16 out of the 24 GHMC seats in the assembly elections, thereby reducing traffic congestion in the area.
Since assuming office, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has initiated various projects and addressed unresolved issues in the GHMC limits. These include the Musi Riverfront Development project, Metro expansion plans, the proposed creation of the Greater City corporation by merging surrounding municipal corporations and GHMC, and the formulation of a comprehensive master plan for city development. The Musi Riverfront Development, in particular, has been prioritized, with the Chief Minister reviewing the project multiple times in a month. The Metro expansion is also given special attention, including connectivity to the airport and various parts of the city, including the Old City.
In addition to their efforts in development, the Congress party is also seeking to repair ties with AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen) – a previous ally of BRS since 2014. The relationship between the two parties became strained after Akbaruddin Owaisi, a prominent member of AIMIM, was arrested in 2013 by the then Congress government in a hate speech case. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s recent visit to London, where he was seen with AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin, indicates efforts to mend relations. The Chief Minister has also maintained a good relationship with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and assured the resolution of pending issues in the Old City. The Congress party hopes that these efforts will bear fruit in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
