Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been going hammer and tongs at the Congress party during his public meetings in Telangana, the unusual bonhomie displayed by chief minister A Revanth Reddy has surprised many political analysts.
Unlike his predecessor and Bharat Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao who took a confrontationist stand towards the Centre, Revanth Reddy not only received and saw off Modi at the airport, but also took part in the meetings to launch various developmental works.
What is more, Revanth Reddy also called Modi his “peddanna” (elder brother) and requested that Modi’s support was necessary for the state to develop further.
He defended his statement later saying he wanted to maintain good relations with the centre to get enough funds for the state.
But what stunned everybody was the way Revanth Reddy praised the “Gujarat model of development” and said he wanted “development like that for Telangana”.
Perhaps, he was not aware of the fact that the Congress high command, particularly Rahul Gandhi, has been attacking Modi for the same Gujarat model.
Not only that Revanth Reddy also “retweeted” a post of PM Modi visiting a temple in Telangana. The Opposition BRS was quick to highlight the endorsement.
The Congress chief minister also drew flak for signing an agreement with Adani to set up a data centre in Hyderabad, at a time when Rahul Gandhi was attacking the same Adani group which is being promoted by Modi.
He also did not hesitate to meet Modi twice and request for liberal assistance to the state and got it.
The Modi government also quickly responded to Revanth’s request to give approval for the construction of flyovers on the defence corridors of Secunderabad cantonment on Rajiv Rahadari.
