Telangana CM Revanth Reddy pitches for South Indian unity at MBIFL 2025

On day 4 of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) held in Thiruvananthapuram, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy delivered a critique of the central government's proposals for One Nation, One Election and delimitation, claiming these initiatives could harm the country's economic progress, particularly for non-BJP-ruled states, especially in the South.

Reddy, who participated in a session titled "Reimagine India: One Nation, One Election," argued that such policies were particularly harmful to states like Telangana, which have been working towards economic development.

He said, “If Telangana becomes a $1 trillion economy, won’t that benefit India’s growth? But the central government is not supporting all states, especially those in the south or non-BJP states. Why punish South India? Because we implemented family planning and other welfare policies?”

He stressed that the central government seemed to have a bias against southern states, which he argued were being unfairly penalised for their progressive policies.

One of the key issues Reddy vehemently opposed was the One Nation, One Election initiative. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having a hidden agenda, stating, “According to Modi, this is not One Nation One Election, this is One Party One Person.”

He also called for greater unity among southern states to safeguard their rights, particularly in the face of what he sees as an increasingly centralised and authoritarian approach from the Modi government. “I want all of South India to unite to protect our rights. I believe in Kerala because you are democratic and you fight for social causes,” he said, rallying the people of the region to stand together.

When asked about the regional differences among southern states, particularly when it comes to sensitive issues like water sharing, Reddy emphasised that his appeal was directed to the people, not political parties. “That is why I am appealing to the people of Kerala and not any political parties. Political parties have their own political agenda. There is a threat to democracy. Narendra Modi and the BJP want to control everything. This is the time to react," he asserted, highlighting the risks he saw in the BJP's centralising approach.

Reddy went further to suggest that if needed, he would take the initiative to start a movement to protect the interests of the South. “My appeal is to people to come together. If necessary, I will initiate this movement,” he declared.

The Congress leader also expressed concern over the shifting trends in national elections, where there appeared to be growing support for a strong central leadership rather than focus on local issues. He pointed out how even in local elections, such as for sarpanch, the BJP seemed to focus heavily on portraying Modi as the central figure, overshadowing the local leadership. "Congress party is missing that link. Local leaders must work harder, seek votes from top leadership, and ensure that the people see their leadership as effective,” Reddy suggested.

He further lamented the fact that voters were increasingly inclined to vote for positions rather than parties or issues, with political parties like Congress struggling to connect with the electorate. "These days, people are only interested in voting for position and opposition. They are not giving space to other political parties. This has been the new phenomenon of People’s mandate," he noted, calling attention to what he saw as a narrowing of the political discourse in India.