Revanth Asks UDF Critics To Visit Telangana To Check Poll Promises

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy challenged the critics of the Five Guarantees announced by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala to visit Telangana, if they wanted to understand how the poll promises were being implemented. He suggested that they could directly examine the Six Guarantees being implemented by the Congress government in Telangana and assess the government’s track record.

Revanth Reddy said that if Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his ministers visited Telangana, the Telangana government would demonstrate firsthand how the guarantees are being implemented. The Chief Minister released the UDF manifesto for the Kerala Assembly elections in Kochi on Thursday, promising Five Guarantees.

The Chief Minister said Vijayan’s tenure was nearing its end and expressed confidence that a “golden era” for the UDF was set to begin. He drew parallels between Vijayan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Telangana former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, alleging similarities in governance styles.

Revanth Reddy criticised what he described as family rule, corruption, and inefficiency in the Vijayan government, comparing it to the previous BRS regime in Telangana. Referring indirectly to controversies such as the Sabarimala gold issue in Kerala, he remarked that even “God’s property is not safe in God’s own state.” He predicted that Kerala would witness a political change similar to Telangana in 2023, expressing confidence that voters would unseat the current government.

Responding to questions on his sharp criticism of Kerala CM Vijayan, including the comment “Nee Po Mone Vijaya” (You go, my boy, Vijaya), Revanth Reddy said Vijayan was a political opponent and maintained that refraining from criticism was not in his nature, though he would not emulate Modi’s style of speaking.

The Chief Minister outlined his government’s priorities, including curbing corruption, plugging revenue leakages, maximising utilisation of Central schemes, and securing due funds for Telangana. He stated that Central funds were not a favour from the Prime Minister but a right of the people. He described the UDF as a coalition of workers led by honest leadership.

Highlighting Telangana as a model, Revanth Reddy said the Congress government had begun implementing its Six Guarantees from the very first Cabinet meeting. He said farm loans worth `21,000 crore benefiting 25 lakh farmer families had been waived. Under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, financial assistance of `12,000 per acre is being provided, amounting to `18,000 crore annually. He added that 67,173 government jobs had been filled transparently, with appointment letters handed over publicly.

He further said the Mahalakshmi scheme, providing free bus travel for women, had helped save `6,000 to `7,000 per month for beneficiaries, while strengthening the state transport corporation by turning losses into profits despite operating 10,000 buses with 50,000 staff. The government is also providing 200 units of free electricity, sanctioning 4.5 lakh Indiramma houses with `5 lakh assistance each, and supplying LPG cylinders at `500. He added that efforts were being made to empower women as entrepreneurs and stakeholders in public transport.

Revanth Reddy expressed confidence that Telangana would achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and $3 trillion by 2047 under the “Telangana Rising Vision-2047,” noting that the state was growing at 10.8 per cent without increasing taxes.

The UDF manifesto unveiled at the event includes the “Indira Five Guarantees,” promising free bus travel for women in KSRTC buses, `1,000 monthly assistance for college-going girls, enhancement of welfare pensions to `3,000 per month, health insurance cover of `25 lakh per family in the name of former chief minister Oommen Chandy, and interest-free loans up to `5 lakh for youth self-employment.

In addition, the manifesto outlines five dream projects in the maritime and aviation sectors and promises the establishment of a tribal university in Wayanad. Prominent leaders, including KPCC president Sunny Joseph, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, AICC general secretary Deepa Dasmunsi, UDF convener Adoor Prakash, and IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty, attended the event.