CM Revanth: Need to Promote Student Politics in Universities

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday said there was an urgent need to promote student politics in universities to generate capable leaders for the country. The CM underscored the need to reduce the influence of money in the political system and expressed serious concern over the increasing dominance of 'management politics' in the country in the place of the 'ideological politics'.

“Politics without grassroots activists poses a danger to the country’s future,” he said, urging the revival of student politics and constructive opposition while addressing the ICFAI-Capital Foundation Society S. Jaipal Reddy memorial award function here.

Revanth Reddy said the consequences of money controlling the political system posed a lurking danger to society at large. The unfortunate trend of 'Swiggy politics' was the order of the day in the country, he averred. “We must reduce the flow of money in politics and uphold values that leaders like Jaipal Reddy stood for,” the CM said.

Revanth Reddy also expressed concern that the role of party activists was also being neglected and it could be a big risk to sustain the ideological politics.

He noted that no MLA had been suspended from the Assembly since he took office, a gesture aimed at encouraging debate. The Chief Minister said that the opposition parties should make constructive suggestions and his government is ready to invite them.

Revanth Reddy described Jaipal Reddy as a “towering personality in Indian politics” whose foresight and integrity left a lasting mark on the country’s parliamentary traditions. He said the veteran leader was instrumental in securing the passage of the Telangana Bill in Parliament without debate.

“Sonia Gandhi herself acknowledged that Telangana would not have been formed without Jaipal Reddy’s persuasive role at that crucial moment,” Revanth Reddy said. He recalled the leader’s career, from student politics in the 1960s to serving four terms as an MLA, five terms as Lok Sabha MP, two terms in the Rajya Sabha, and holding key Union ministries including petroleum and information. “He brought reforms like the Prasar Bharati Act and believed in a strong opposition in a democracy,” the CM added.

The event’s central honour, the S. Jaipal Reddy Democracy Award, was conferred on policy adviser, author and Harvard alumnus Mohan Guruswamy, known for his work on public policy, economics, and governance. Guruswamy, a former adviser to the Union finance minister, was recognised for his commitment to value-based political discourse and civil society deliberations.

Capital Foundation’s Purushotham Reddy said that Guruswamy, who was earlier reluctant to accept the award, relented only after being persuaded that the award would help set an example of principled public engagement.

Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sasmit Patra received the B.R. Ambedkar Award and delivered a lecture on “Challenges before Parliamentary Democracy in India.” Patra warned that disruptions have become the “norm” in Parliament, pointing out that the first five days of the Monsoon Session were a “washout,” which he described as unhealthy for democracy. He also spoke about the drastic decline in legislative scrutiny of bills, “from 5.5 out of 10 bills earlier to just 1.7 today”, and called for MPs to exercise conscience beyond party lines.

Other awardees included Additional Solicitor General N. Venkataraman, senior Supreme Court advocate G.V. Rao, Mysore Education Society president S.S. Ramdas, and environmental expert B.V. Subba Rao, among others.

Social activist Shilpa Krishna, CSIR scientist Dr Thallada Bhaskar, and world snooker champion Anupama Ramachandran were also honoured under various categories.

Prominent sponsors of the awards were felicitated, including Hyderabad-based art and vintage automobile collector Ram Lal Agarwal, whose family’s collection of M.F. Husain paintings and heritage cars are widely regarded as one of the finest in the country.

The ceremony, attended by legal luminaries, academics, and policymakers, ended with a call to restore civility and higher values in political discourse, echoing Jaipal Reddy’s lifelong commitment to principled public service.