Calling on KCR was a courtesy: Telangana CM Revanth

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has said that he had walked up to the seat of the Leader of Opposition and Bharat Rashta Samithi (BRS) chief K. Chandrashekar Rao to greet him on the first day of the winter session on Monday (December 29, 2025) as a courtesy.

“I met KCR in a courteous manner in the Assembly. We respect every member and I have met KCR not just today but earlier also when he was in hospital,” he said in an informal chat with reporters in the Assembly lobbies. Asked why the former Chief Minister KCR left the Assembly immediately, Mr. Reddy shot back saying the media should ask him.

After last week’s bitter slanging match between the Congress leaders led by Mr. Reddy and the BRS leaders, a short video of the Chief Minister walking up to the seat of KCR and greeting him with folded hands went viral. Mr. Rao too got up from his seat and reciprocated the gesture of the Chief Minister.

But, the Congress circles were quick to fault BRS working President K. T. Rama Rao and another BRS MLA P. Kaushik Reddy for staying put in their respective seats when Mr. Revanth Reddy came to greet KCR.

“When CM Revanth Reddy greeted former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao, all members stood in respect. KTR remained seated, which reflects arrogance and lack of values. Speaking about respect and values while failing to practice them is laughable,” party MLC Addanki Dayakar said. He complimented Mr. Revanth Reddy for extending respectful greetings to the former CM and termed it as respecting human values.

Telangana Fisheries Corporation Chairman Mettu Sai Kumar in a statement said Mr. Revanth Reddy knows when to step back and when to step forward. “His humility and dignity were once again evident when he shook hands respectfully with former Chief Minister KCR in the Assembly,” he said, but lamented that the same grace was not visible from KTR and Mr. Kaushik Reddy, who chose to sit.