HYDERABAD: Stating that ideology-based politics was disappearing from the country’s political landscape, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday expressed concern that they were gradually being replaced by what he described as “Swiggy politics.”
“The number of leaders committed to ideology is declining in our politics. This is a danger to democracy. The country is moving rapidly towards instability, with political managers taking centrestage and democratic values weakening,” he said.
The chief minister was speaking at an event jointly organised by ICFAI and the Capital Foundation Society in Hyderabad, where he presented the Jaipal Reddy Democracy Award to economist Mohan Guruswamy.
Addressing the gathering, Revanth stressed the need for ideological student politics in universities and said efforts must be made to curb the role of money in politics. “We are gradually increasing the number of Assembly sitting days. In the last 18 months, not a single MLA has been suspended,” he said.
Paying tribute to Jaipal Reddy, Revanth said that the late leader played a key role in national politics and remained in public life until his last breath. “As a Union minister, he was instrumental in shaping policies and legislation. His oratory skills earned him the Best Parliamentarian Award,” Revanth said.
He noted that Jaipal Reddy promoted social justice by allocating party tickets to SCs, STs and BCs in his constituency.
Revanth added that Jaipal Reddy had left the Congress on ideological grounds and rejoined it for the same reason, not for positions or power. “No one can erase his contribution to the formation of Telangana. Without his support, Telangana may not have become a reality,” he said.
The chief minister also quoted Sonia Gandhi as having once told him that her decision to announce the formation of Telangana was influenced by Jaipal Reddy. “He had no enemies in politics, only opponents,” Revanth stated.