Revanth Reddy counters Pinarayi Vijayan, questions Kerala claims on poverty and governance
HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, defending his government’s performance and questioning claims made by the Kerala leadership on poverty eradication and governance.
In a strongly worded letter dated April 7, 2026, Reddy said he had maintained “respectful and graceful” criticism, while alleging that Vijayan used “language of poor taste.” He added that he would extend full courtesy if Vijayan visits Telangana.
Telangana growth figures cited to counter criticism
Reddy disputed Vijayan’s reliance on the NITI Aayog Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2023-24, stating it reflects the “tail-end of a decade of BRS-BJP misrule,” which ended in December 2023.
He said his government has completed 28 months and should be assessed on that record. Telangana’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2024-25 stood at ₹16.12 lakh crore, growing at 10.1%, higher than the national average of 9.9%, he said.
Reddy added that the state’s per capita income reached ₹3.87 lakh, making Telangana the highest-ranked major state on this metric, ahead of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala, citing the Reserve Bank of India’s Handbook of Statistics 2024-25.
He acknowledged Kerala’s cumulative achievements but asked Vijayan to present outcomes specific to his tenure.
Questions raised on Kerala poverty claim and pending cases
Referring to Vijayan’s earlier statement that Kerala would eradicate extreme poverty by late 2025, Reddy sought clarity on whether that target had been achieved.
He pointed out that Vijayan’s own letter mentioned 64,006 families still receiving micro-plans. “Has extreme poverty been eradicated?” Reddy asked, also questioning whether the November 1, 2025 declaration was independently verified.
On corruption, Reddy said he respects NITI Aayog’s rankings but raised concerns over unresolved issues. He referred to the Kerala gold smuggling case, alleging links to individuals connected to the Chief Minister’s Office, and asked why it remains unresolved.
He also questioned why 4.5 kg of gold allegedly misappropriated from the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple has not been accounted for.
Telangana outlines ‘$1 trillion economy’ vision roadmap
Reddy said Telangana is pursuing a “Telangana Rising” vision, targeting a $1 trillion economy within a decade. He cited projects such as the proposed Future City near Hyderabad and the National Industrial Corridor at Zahirabad.
He expressed hope that a new government in Kerala would implement the “Nava Keralam” vision, adding that “the people of Kerala will decide soon, as it should be.”
