Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s Ram-Shiva remark sparks BJP backlash

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has triggered a political row by saying Lord Shiva is the ‘God of the poor’ and Lord Ram the ‘God of the rich’, while accusing the BJP of having ‘stolen’ Lord Ram as a political symbol. Speaking at Pratidin Media Network’s The Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on 28 September, he questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ but not ‘Har Har Mahadev’, linking the party to wealthy interests. Reddy also drew a North-South cultural contrast, saying, ‘We are Dravidians, they are Aryans. We are devotees of Shiva, they are devotees of Ram.’

Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar hit back, accusing Reddy of creating political divisions between the two deities and noting that Telangana houses both Dakshina Kashi and Dakshina Ayodhya temples. BJP state president N Ramchander Rao demanded an apology, calling the remarks ‘absurd’ and calling for protests. Congress state chief Mahesh Kumar Goud defended Reddy, saying Lord Ram appears rich while Lord Shiva appears poor, and accused the BJP of doing politics in the name of Ram. BRS working president KT Rama Rao criticised both national parties, calling Reddy’s comments ‘nonsense’ and questioning their focus on faith instead of jobs.

Update, 1 October 2026: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on 30 September called Reddy's remarks ‘nonsense’, questioning why national parties discuss faith instead of jobs, siasat.com reports. Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao demanded an apology and called for mandal-level effigy burnings, abplive.com and hindustantimes.com report. Congress state chief Mahesh Kumar Goud defended Reddy, saying Lord Ram looks rich while Shiva looks poor, telanganatoday.com reports.