# Revanth Reddy: Shiva god of poor, Ram god of rich

2026-09-28T18:47:08+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has sparked a political row by saying Lord Shiva is the god of the poor and Lord Ram the god of the rich, while taking aim at the BJP. Speaking at a media conclave in New Delhi, he said Dravidians worship Shiva while northern Aryans worship Ram, and asked why BJP leaders chant "Jai Shri Ram" but never "Har Har Mahadev". He called the BJP a party of the wealthy that had "stolen" Lord Ram for electoral gain. Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar hit back, accusing Reddy of creating political divisions between the two deities. He noted that Telangana houses both Dakshina Kashi temple and Dakshina Ayodhya temple, and that PM Modi was the first prime minister to visit the Vemulawada temple since Independence. Reddy also urged opposition unity against a special revision of electoral rolls, which he alleged was designed to delete voters ahead of the 2029 elections.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The coverage splits on whether the CM's remarks were a political critique or a communal provocation. NDTV and Times of India lead with the BJP's rebuttal and the charge of dividing gods, framing the CM as the aggressor. Telugu360.com omits that backlash entirely, instead amplifying the CM's full economic and federal argument, treating the Shiva-Ram line as one plank of a broader grievance. Siasat.com stays neutral-report, quoting both the remark and the lack of BJP response. The editorial pattern shows a north-south media divide: outlets covering the BJP reaction centre the offence, Telugu360.com, a southern site, centres the policy context. The Skanda Upanishad or Tirumantiram are not invoked, so the debate remains political rather than theological. The Union minister's reference to Vemulawada and Bhadrachalam is the concrete point to watch: whether the CM's home state temples are cited as counter-evidence to his Dravidian-Aryan divide.

## Coverage

- telugu360.com (government critical) <https://www.telugu360.com/shiva-is-god-of-the-poor-ram-of-the-rich-revanths-controversial-swipe-at-bjp/>
  Full speech report with CM's economic and federal critique, no mention of BJP backlash, implies sympathy
- siasat.com (neutral report) <https://www.siasat.com/shiv-for-poor-ram-for-rich-revanth-compares-congress-bjp-3549595/>
  Neutral narration of CM's remark and context, notes BJP yet to react, neither defends nor attacks
- ndtv.com (sensationalist) <https://www.ndtv.com/telangana-news/revanth-reddy-under-bjp-fire-over-lord-ram-god-of-rich-lord-shiva-of-poor-remarks-12112411>
  Leads with BJP's fiery reaction, frames CM's remark as dividing gods, omits CM's policy argument
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shiva-god-of-poor-ram-of-rich-cm-revanths-off-the-cuff-remark-draws-bjps-ire/articleshow/134556415.cms>
  Leads with BJP ire, quotes CM and Union minister, adds temple context absent in others

Tags: A Revanth Reddy, BJP, Narendra Modi, RAM, Shiva, Telangana
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