Telangana Model is Twenty20, Gujarat’s is Test and Dated: Revanth Reddy
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy spoke passionately about his state’s model of governance at the India Today Conclave 2025. In a bold statement, he threw an open challenge by comparing the Gujarat model of development to a test match. Reddy asserted that while Gujarat’s approach mirrored the pace of a Test match, Telangana’s was akin to the dynamic and fast-paced Twenty20 format. Highlighting the core areas of his state’s model, he emphasized development, welfare, and good governance.
Reddy remarked, “Gujarat model is a Test match model. Telangana model is the Twenty20 model. It is the model for the country.” He elaborated by pointing out, “Because Gujarat doesn’t have any welfare model. By showing some or the other development, Prime Minister Modi, when he was the chief minister there, attracted investments.” He criticized the Gujarat model for lacking a brand ambassador to promote the state after Narendra Modi advanced to the national political stage as Prime Minister, claiming the need still persists.
The Telangana Chief Minister did not hold back in his critique of Prime Minister Modi, accusing him of promoting Gujarat at the expense of the rest of the country. “Even though Modi is the Prime Minister, he is not helping to bring investment to all parts of the country. Anyone who comes to India, go to Gujarat and invest is what the Prime Minister says,” Reddy stated.
When probed about how his governance model differs, Reddy was clear: “My model is development, welfare, and good governance. These three are our core areas.” He then drew a direct comparison between the infrastructure of Hyderabad, Telangana’s bustling capital, and Ahmedabad. “Does Ahmedabad have an Outer Ring Road? Does it have an international airport to compete with Hyderabad? Does it have pharma investments, IT investments? What is there in Gujarat?” he asked rhetorically.
Showcasing Telangana’s accomplishments, Reddy highlighted that one-third of all Covid vaccines administered across India were manufactured in Telangana and that Hyderabad alone produces 35% of the country’s bulk drugs. He underlined his ambitions by asserting that Hyderabad is not merely competing with other Indian cities like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, or Bengaluru, but with international urban centers such as New York, Seoul, or Tokyo. Through the Telangana model, Reddy aims to elevate Hyderabad to be the world’s best city within five years.
Citing his Future City Development Authority initiative, he revealed plans to transform 20,000 acres into a “magnificent” city, stating confidently, “Come see us in five years. I am going to construct the world’s best city.”
Reddy also addressed the issue of language and cultural imposition, weighing in on the ongoing debate about the imposition of Hindi. “You don’t have to force someone to learn any language. In college, you had optional languages of French, German, Sanskrit. If you want to learn… anyone can learn. Hindi is the largest spoken language (in India). It’s not the national language,” he noted.
According to Revanth, Telugu ranks only second to Hindi as the most spoken language, followed by Bangla. He challenged the efforts of Prime Minister Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party in promoting Hindi, questioning their initiatives for Telugu. He criticized the removal of Telugu as a medium of expression from the civil services examinations and expressed concerns about the enforced promotion of Hindi, stating, “If it was optional, no one would have a problem. I am talking in Hindi here. I am speaking it after learning it, right? Just don’t try to force it down our throats. That’s what we are against.”
Reddy equated the learning of English to that of Hindi, acknowledging that while English is not a mother tongue, it is widely learned for practical purposes like education, employment, and business. “For education, for employment, for business, we are learning English,” he explained, emphasizing the need for choice in linguistic pursuits.
As Reddy showcases Telangana’s progressive model of governance, it becomes evident that his vision extends beyond state lines, aspiring to set a precedent on a national level. His ambitious approach embodies the spirit of innovation and rapid development, promising transformative growth for Hyderabad and the state amidst the broader Indian development landscape.
