Revanth Reddy’s selective diatribes put Congress in a bind

Congress faces criticism after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy targeted Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan while remaining silent on Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. Observers say the party’s selective aggression raises concerns about internal discipline and opposition unity.

Hyderabad: The Congress’ moral posturing has run aground once again. This time, it is due to the sharp tongue of its own Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

At a time when the party is battling for power in both Assam and Kerala, Revanth Reddy chose to target Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, but maintained a studied silence on BJP firebrand and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Though Sarma repeatedly attacked Rahul Gandhi with sharp rhetoric, the Telangana Chief Minister barely mustered a response. He neither campaigned for his party in Assam nor even issued a token rebuttal.

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Instead, he trained his guns on Vijayan, who is an 80-year-old CPI(M) veteran and an ally of the INDIA bloc, with what has been described as a highly abusive personal attack. Ironically, the silence from the Congress high command has been deafening.

This is not new. When Revanth Reddy earlier used such harsh language against BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, the Congress looked the other way. Now, his attack on Vijayan has gone unchecked again, raising doubts about whether indiscipline is being tacitly endorsed.

This selective aggression has raised uncomfortable questions within political circles. Why is the Congress allowing one of its Chief Ministers to target an ally while sparing the BJP? Why is the Congress not reining in its Chief Minister to refrain from personal attacks?

The contrast with Chandrashekhar Rao’s response in a similar situation is telling.

When Himanta Biswa Sarma made derogatory remarks against Sonia Gandhi earlier, the BRS chief and then Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had publicly condemned the Assam Chief Minister’s remarks on February 12, 2022. Despite political differences with the Congress, he stepped beyond party lines to defend political civility.

Political observers pointed out that this selective aggression indicates a deeper problem. Since its Karnataka win three years ago, the Congress has struggled to take on the BJP directly in key states. Instead, it has often picked unnecessary fights with allies, weakening opposition unity and indirectly aiding the BJP.

They argued that this pattern indicates the party’s inability to maintain coherence within the opposition bloc, while claiming to lead a united fight against the BJP. With electoral stakes high, such mixed messaging could undermine the Congress’ credibility, not just among allies, but also among voters who are seeking a clear and united alternative to the BJP.