Congress Veteran T Jeevan Reddy Resigns After 42 Years, Slams Party Leadership
In a significant political development in Telangana, senior Congress leader and former minister T Jeevan Reddy announced his resignation from the Indian National Congress on Wednesday, severing his 42-year-long association with the grand old party. The veteran politician, however, remained ambiguous about his future political moves, declining to confirm whether he would join another party or launch his own political outfit.
End of an Era: Jeevan Reddy's Political Journey
T Jeevan Reddy, a six-term MLA from Jagtial, has had a storied political career, serving five terms on a Congress ticket and one term with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). His political journey faced a setback in the 2023 elections when he was defeated by Sanjay Kumar of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) from the same constituency. This defeat, coupled with subsequent events, fueled his decision to resign.
Reddy announced his resignation after convening a crucial meeting with his core followers and supporters in Jagtial. In a bold declaration, he stated that he would now launch a concerted fight against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, drawing parallels to his past battles against former chief ministers N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP and K Chandrasekhar Rao of BRS.
Core Grievances: Defections and Disrespect
In his resignation letter addressed to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Jeevan Reddy articulated several grievances that precipitated his exit. He expressed profound dissatisfaction with the Congress leadership for actively encouraging defections and welcoming BRS leaders into the party fold, particularly highlighting the induction of Sanjay Kumar, his political rival from Jagtial.
"The Congress came to power due to a decade of relentless hard work by dedicated party workers, who endured police cases and the high-handedness of BRS representatives and cadres," Reddy asserted. "How can the party leadership now allow BRS leaders to dominate over loyal Congress workers? This decision to admit BRS MLAs, despite having a majority in the House, will inflict harm on the Congress, as no party worker is content with this move."
He also cited personal humiliation and a lack of respect within the party, recounting an incident where Chief Minister Revanth Reddy failed to condemn or visit the family of one of his murdered followers. "Honour is more important than positions. I remained silent when overlooked for a cabinet post, but the continuous insults became unbearable," he emphasized.
Political Repercussions and Future Speculations
Despite reports suggesting a potential shift to the BRS, Jeevan Reddy's followers indicated that a definitive decision regarding his future political alignment would be made shortly. His resignation underscores deepening internal rifts within the Telangana Congress, especially concerning the integration of defectors from rival parties.
Reddy's political legacy includes serving as the Roads and Buildings Minister in YS Rajasekhar Reddy's cabinet in undivided Andhra Pradesh and as the Excise Minister in NT Rama Rao's administration. Although TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and AICC secretary Sachin Sawant met him on Tuesday, offering assurances of support on behalf of AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, Reddy remained resolute in his decision to depart.
In his parting remarks, he extended gratitude to Mallikarjun Kharge and the Gandhi family for the opportunities and positions afforded to him during his tenure. As Telangana's political landscape braces for potential realignments, Jeevan Reddy's exit marks a poignant moment in the state's evolving political narrative, highlighting the tensions between party loyalty and strategic defections.
