Reddy, 53, was once a popular leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Kodangal in Vikarabad district, elected MLA from Kodangal in 2009 and 2014. In May 2015, the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested him on the accusation of attempting to bribe nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson to vote in favour of a TDP candidate in the Legislative Council election.

After being granted bail, Reddy left the TDP and joined the Congress in 2017. While he lost from Kodangal in the December 2018 elections to the BRS, four months later, he was elected to Parliament from Malkajgiri. In June 2021, Reddy was appointed as the state Congress president, and has had a mixed record since.

Currently, the Congress under him is a divided house. Leaders such as Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy and Dr Dasoju Sravan have quit over differences with him and there has been criticism of his “autocratic” style of functioning. He has also been targeted for being an “outsider” in the party.

“Revanth Reddy promotes himself only and does not take other Congress leaders into confidence. His style of functioning is autocratic. So the Telangana PCC is divided into factions, pro and anti-Revanth Reddy,’’ a leader said.

Another Congress functionary said, “But he happens to be our best bet as all other leaders have failed to lead the party against the BRS. At least with Revanth we have a fighting chance. He is rejuvenating the party.”

While factions loyal to leaders such as Uttam Kumar Reddy and state Congress working president Anjan Kumar Yadav remain wary of him, sources said that after intervention by the Congress high command, Reddy has taken care to consult leaders especially before making announcements.