The Congress party’s victory in the 2023 Telangana elections, mirroring its earlier success in Karnataka, can be attributed to a blend of well-executed strategies and strong central-state coordination. The party’s projection of a decisive leader, coupled with welfare policies reminiscent of the Karnataka model, proved effective. Moreover, their secular and inclusive stance, alongside leveraging anti-incumbency sentiments, significantly contributed to their triumph. The victory was further bolstered by civil society organisations, whose subtle yet impactful support played a pivotal role. These combined factors were instrumental in shaping the Congress party’s strategy and subsequent electoral success in Telangana. Telangana’s success validated the Karnataka model.
Leadership: The rise of Anumula Revanth Reddy
A.R. Reddy’s ascent as a leader in Telangana offers a stark contrast to the leadership crises and internal conflicts plaguing the Congress in other states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Reddy’s strategic positioning was vital both for dealing with factions and the ideological narrative. Reddy was strategically picked from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2017 in a state where the Congress party had been politically wiped out. The central leadership had counterintuitively chosen a dark horse from an opposition party, to perform an impossible task.
Revanth Reddy’s political acumen, evidenced by his victory in the 2009 Andhra Pradesh assembly elections as a TDP candidate, marked him as a potentially promising regional figure. The TDP leader had snatched the Kodangal seat from a five-time incumbent Congress MLA many years before the birth of Telangana. The political landscape’s shift following Y.S. Reddy’s demise and the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2013 presented new challenges. While the TDP struggled in Telangana, the rise of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) further complicated the scenario. Reddy’s resilience shone as he continued to assert his political relevance, winning the 2014 Telangana assembly elections as a TDP candidate. His strategic alignment with the Congress party in 2017, despite an initial defeat in the 2018 state elections, was a calculated move of the Congress leadership. The party could successfully offer a promising possibility to a leader. Rejuvenating the party’s influence in Telangana needed a dark horse like Reddy.
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His leadership style, marked by dedication to Telangana’s causes and loyalty to the Gandhi family, highlights his capability to balance local and national political dynamics. Reddy’s evolution from a regional to a national figure exemplifies the Congress party’s capacity deft and pragmatic handling of regional leadership, which needs emulation in other states.
Welfare policies: Echoing the Karnataka model
The Telangana campaign followed the Karnataka welfare model to the T.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s (BRS) approach was clientelistic. It focused on targeted redistributions favouring certain groups. The BRS’s initiatives like the Kula Vruthi OBC Development Fund and the Rythu Bandhu scheme were criticised for perpetuating caste and occupation-based divisions rather than promoting broad empowerment.
In stark contrast, the Congress in Telangana adopted a dual approach, combining clientelism with programmatic welfare measures. These programmatic policies were designed with clear, non-discriminatory eligibility rules, aiming to benefit a wide range of societal groups. The Congress’s campaign promises included diverse schemes such as ‘Mahalakshmi’, ‘Rythu Bharosa’, ‘Gruha Jyothi’, ‘Indiramma Indlu’, ‘Yuva Vikasam’, and ‘Cheyutha’. These initiatives, including free electricity units, subsidised LPG cylinders, land distribution, and educational support, were intended to appeal to various demographics, including women, farmers, students, and disadvantaged groups. The most important feature was the considerable investment in all minority communities.
This balanced approach of the Congress, integrating targeted benefits for specific groups with broad-based inclusive schemes, played a pivotal role in their electoral triumph. It allowed the party to address the unique needs of different groups while projecting an image of inclusive development, capturing the support of a larger section of the electorate.
Secularism and inclusivity: Beyond soft Hindutva
The Congress party’s steadfast adherence to secularism and inclusivity significantly influenced their victory in the Telangana elections, distinguishing their approach from the soft Hindutva stance observed in states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Karnataka was the only state that followed the Karnataka model in the November 2023 elections. This strategy resonated with Telangana’s diverse populace.
Key to this was the “Minority Declaration,” a bold initiative pledging substantial budget increases for minority welfare, up to Rs 4,000 crore annually. This commitment aimed at uplifting minority communities through enhanced support and representation. The party also promised a caste census to ensure equitable distribution of resources and opportunities among all backward classes, including minorities.
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Furthermore, the Congress proposed allocating Rs 1,000 crore annually for subsidised loans to unemployed minority youth and women, augmenting their economic empowerment. The Abdul Kalam Taufa-e-Taleem Scheme was another significant measure, offering financial assistance up to Rs 5 lakh to minority youths pursuing higher education.
The party’s campaign also visibly embraced diversity. Leaders actively visited religious sites of various communities, including mosques, temples, and other holy places, promoting solidarity and respect across faiths. The inclusion of Dalit leaders in these visits symbolised a unified stance against discrimination.
This comprehensive approach, combining welfare initiatives with visible inclusivity in religious engagements, broadened the Congress’s appeal. It attracted not only minority communities but also voters favouring a secular and inclusive political framework, thereby fortifying the party’s position and contributing to its electoral success in Telangana.
Civic synergy: NGOs and the Congress
Telangana had its own version of the “Eddelu Karnataka” (Wake up Karnataka) movement. In Telangana, a consortium of local civil society organisations played a pivotal, albeit subtle, role in shaping the political landscape. Groups such as Telangana People’s Joint Action Committee (JAC), Jago Telangana, Bharat Bachao, Telangana Samakhya and Muslim Organisations JAC formed a robust network, echoing the Congress party’s commitment to various social issues.
Similarly, groups like the Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan, led by national convener Yogendra Yadav, emphasised the need for a democratic India, where the Constitution and equality of all communities are upheld. Their stance was clear: to defeat the BJP and its allies in the upcoming elections, both at the state and national levels. This movement saw the participation of hundreds of senior social activists and leaders, reflecting a widespread desire for change.
These organisations, steered by influential civil society figures, became a collective voice for political change, working in tandem but not at the forefront of the Congress campaign. Their activities spanned organising events, mobilising public opinion, and active campaigning across Telangana.
Can the Congress learn the lesson?
The Congress’s Telangana victory is the result of a well-executed strategy encompassing strong leadership, welfare-oriented policies, secularism and civil society support, all within the challenging environment of competitive authoritarianism. The Congress faces a critical choice between the successful Karnataka model that worked in Telangana, which is very different from the factional feuds and soft-Hindutva strategies that failed in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. The 2024 national elections could mark the last possibility for the Congress to propagate the Karnataka model which succeeded in Telangana. INDIA (Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance) needs to learn this lesson as well.
Seyed Hossein Zarhani is Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University and Rahul Mukherji is Professor & Chair, Modern Politics of South Asia, South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University.