Why Revanth Reddy’s NTR Statue Move Matters in Hyderabad Politics

Telangana politics is heating up ahead of the upcoming municipal corporation elections, and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy appears to have made a calculated political move by unveiling a statue of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) in the heart of Hyderabad.

The 13-foot bronze statue of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder and former united Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister was inaugurated at Ameerpet on May 28, marking NTR’s birth anniversary. Political observers believe the move is aimed at attracting NTR admirers , Telugu-speaking settlers from Andhra Pradesh, and traditional TDP sympathisers toward the Congress party.

Speaking at the event, Revanth Reddy described NTR as a leader who rose above caste, religion and regional boundaries, calling him a transformative force in Telugu politics.

The Congress leader also strongly rejected criticism over a Congress Chief Minister honouring a leader who spent much of his political career opposing the Congress party. Revanth said NTR was not merely a leader of Andhra Pradesh but an iconic figure respected across regions. He added that just as former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi remains important to Congress ideology, NTR’s welfare-driven governance model also continues to inspire the Telangana government.

Political analyst Telakapalli Ravi observed that Revanth Reddy is attempting to blend the welfare legacy of NTR with the Congress tradition associated with Indira Gandhi. According to him, the strategy could help Congress gain support among Andhra-origin voters and long-time TDP sympathisers living in Hyderabad.

Revanth Reddy himself began his political career in the TDP before joining the Congress in 2017, giving added political significance to the outreach effort.

The choice of Ameerpet for the statue unveiling is also seen as strategic. The locality and surrounding areas have a sizeable population of Andhra settlers and TDP supporters, many of whom still retain strong emotional attachment to NTR even decades after his death.

Congress leaders believe the symbolic gesture could translate into electoral gains in the upcoming urban local body elections. After registering victories in the 2023 Assembly elections, subsequent bypolls and local body polls, the ruling Congress is now focusing heavily on strengthening its position in Hyderabad.

In the 2020 GHMC elections, the then ruling BRS won 56 seats, while the BJP secured 48 and the AIMIM won 44 in the 150-member corporation. Congress managed to win only two seats.

However, after the five-year GHMC council term ended earlier this year, the Telangana government moved to reorganise the civic structure by dividing GHMC into three separate corporations Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation , Cyberabad Municipal Corporation , and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation . Delimitation and administrative preparations are currently underway, with election notifications expected once the process is completed.

Against this backdrop, political circles view the NTR statue inauguration not merely as a commemorative event, but as a carefully crafted electoral strategy by Revanth Reddy to expand Congress influence in Hyderabad ahead of a crucial civic battle.