Hyderabad, Sep 2026 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday asserted that nobody could intimidate or cow him down, saying he was not a slave to anyone and could be won only through friendship.
“Nobody can cow me down. You can win me only with friendship. I am ready to do anything in friendship,” Revanth Reddy said while addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad’s Old City after inaugurating a flyover along with Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi.
“I am not a slave to anybody. I am a slave only to friendship,” the Chief Minister said, stressing his personal equation with Owaisi.
His remarks came hours after Telangana minister Konda Surekha accused him of allegedly blackmailing the Congress high command to secure her removal from the state Cabinet. Following the Congress leadership’s approval, Revanth Reddy on Thursday decided to drop Surekha from the Council of Ministers and sent his recommendation to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.
The Chief Minister also indicated that he had no plans of leaving active politics anytime soon, telling the gathering that he had a long political career ahead. “I have to be amidst you for another 25 years. I have not entered politics to go back,” he said.
Referring to his relationship with Owaisi, Revanth Reddy said he shared a personal friendship with the AIMIM chief. He also responded to Owaisi’s advice that the Chief Minister should retain his aggressive political style.
Revanth Reddy said aggressive politics might have a place while in opposition, but those in government carried greater responsibility. “You can be aggressive in opposition, but while in power you will have a responsibility. You have to be soft and take everyone along,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that holding the top executive position gave him the ability to get many works completed with merely a “stare”, but he preferred a different approach. He said he wanted to accomplish development works by winning people’s hearts and taking everyone along.
Owaisi, in his address, made a significant political statement, saying the AIMIM was supporting the Telangana government because of Revanth Reddy and not because of the Congress party. He thanked the Chief Minister for releasing funds and granting approvals for several development projects in Hyderabad’s Old City.
Owaisi recalled that the foundation stone for the Chanchalguda-Santoshnagar Steel Flyover had been laid during the previous BRS government, but construction began only after Revanth Reddy released the required funds.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the 3.32-km-long, four-lane Chanchalguda-Santoshnagar Steel Flyover, constructed at a cost of Rs 620 crore. The project is expected to improve connectivity and ease traffic movement in the densely populated Old City area.
Owaisi also praised Revanth Reddy for reviving stalled work on Metro Rail connectivity to the Old City. He said the state government had sanctioned Rs 2,200 crore for the Metro project and approved a Rs 400-crore cable bridge across Mir Alam Tank.
Revanth Reddy assured residents that his government would extend all possible support for the development of the Old City, describing it as the original city and a source of pride for Hyderabad’s people.
The Chief Minister also defended Owaisi and AIMIM against allegations questioning their patriotism. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said he had seen Owaisi come forward in support of the Indian Army.
“Some people say AIMIM and Owaisi are against the country, but I have seen how he came out in support of the Indian Army during Operation Sindoor,” Revanth Reddy said.
While acknowledging political differences, he said the patriotism of Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi should not be questioned. He said they were “no less patriots” than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Revanth Reddy further stressed that Telangana’s development would depend on Hindus and Muslims remaining united and moving forward together. He said his government would prioritise development and that he would focus on politics primarily during election periods.
Taking aim at the opposition BRS and BJP, the Chief Minister accused them of creating hurdles for the Musi Rejuvenation project. He said the state government was pursuing the project with the broader objective of creating a night-time economy in Hyderabad and generating employment opportunities, particularly for economically weaker sections of the Muslim community living in the area.
Revanth Reddy also announced that the Metro Rail connection between Gowliguda and Chandrayanagutta would be completed before the next Assembly elections. He reiterated that he intended to travel to the Old City by Metro during the next election campaign to seek votes.
The Chief Minister’s remarks, alongside Owaisi’s public endorsement of his government, highlighted the growing emphasis on development projects and political cooperation in Hyderabad’s Old City, even as the Congress government continues to face opposition from the BRS and BJP.
