‘Like Karna, I will help my friends’: CM Revanth defends Rajya Sabha nomination of close aide Vem Narender Reddy

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy defended the nomination of his close confidant and friend Vem Narender Reddy. The 15 others on the list who were rejected have reportedly sulked after the nominations were announced by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

There are two seats in the Rajya Sabha from Telangana.

‘Delhi only has ear for CM Revanth’

Defending his decision, CM Revanth said, “Like Karna in the Mahabharata, I too, will help my friends and those who have stood by me. Some may like it, some may not—but I remain firm.”

His statement has led to further acrimony among the Congress loyalists who claim that New Delhi is only listening to CM Revanth.

More important than political optics

The remark was a direct rebuttal to whispers of ‘cronyism’ within the party.

By invoking Karna—a figure synonymous with unwavering, often sacrificial loyalty—CM Revanth signalled that he values the trust of those who ‘travelled the distance’ with him more than political optics.

Vem Narender Reddy, often called the CM’s ‘eyes and ears,’ followed CM Revanth from the TDP to Congress in 2017 and has been a cornerstone of his inner circle ever since.

15 aspirants left in the cold

During the nomination process, there was intense lobbying among the aspirants. Congress leader Jagga Reddy even went to New Delhi to meet Congress Party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

There were letters written to the AICC members and senior Congress leaders were reached out in Maharashtra and Karnataka to lobby in New Delhi.

Veterans of the Congress party, V Hanumantha Rao, Madhu Yaskhi Goud, (SC) Dommati Sambaiah, Dr P Vinay Kumar, T Jeevan Reddy, G Chinna Reddy, M Kodanda Reddy, C Rohin Reddy, Mohammed Ali Shabbir, MD Faheem Qureshi and Mohammed Azmathullah were on the list.

The ‘heartburn’ among these leaders is palpable.

Many argued that the seats should have been used to balance ‘social arithmetic’, specifically calling for representation from the Backward Classes (BC) and Scheduled Castes (SC), such as the Madiga community.

Instead, the selection of Reddy is being viewed by critics as a consolidation of power within a specific circle.

A message about loyalty?

Despite the internal friction, political observers note that the AICC’s endorsement of CM Revanth’s picks proves his growing stature in Delhi. By rewarding Narender Reddy, the CM has sent a clear message: loyalty to the leadership will be rewarded above all else.

While the BRS initially toyed with the idea of a contest, both Congress candidates are expected to be elected unanimously, as the opposition lacked the numbers to force a vote.