Revanth Reddy weighed joining BJP before Congress, claims BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind
Synopsis
BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind has dropped a political bombshell — claiming Telangana CM Revanth Reddy once weighed joining the BJP before landing in Congress. With allegations of a 'Suvendu Adhikari-style' move, a bus driver's removal over farming remarks, and a fuel-price data war, Arvind has opened multiple fronts against the Telangana government in a single day.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind claimed on 27 May that Telangana CM Revanth Reddy had once explored joining the BJP before switching to Congress .
Arvind described the pattern as the 'Revanth model,' noting Reddy's moves across BRS , TDP , and Congress .
TGSRTC contract driver B.
Ashok was removed from the Jagtial depot on 26 May after reportedly advising Congress leaders to focus on farmer procurement issues.
Arvind cited Telangana's petrol price at ₹115.70 per litre — allegedly the highest in the country — and urged the state to cut VAT on fuel.
The BJP MP said any decision to accept Revanth Reddy into the BJP would rest entirely with the party high command .
BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind on Wednesday, 27 May claimed he possessed information suggesting Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had once explored joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before ultimately switching from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to the Indian National Congress. Arvind asserted that a leader with such a political trajectory 'cannot be loyal to anybody.'
The Claim and Its Context
The remarks came a day after Arvind had alleged that Revanth Reddy could eventually do a 'Suvendu Adhikari' to the Congress — a reference to the West Bengal leader who defected from Trinamool Congress (TMC) to the BJP. Arvind had also suggested that the Telangana CM might share some form of understanding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing to Modi's recent remarks at a public event in Hyderabad.
'I am a small worker in the BJP, so I do not have complete details. But just like how Suvendu Adhikari aligned with the BJP in West Bengal, Revanth Reddy might also be trying to build a similar relationship with PM Modi,' Arvind had said.
What Arvind Said About Revanth's Party-Hopping
Elaborating on his claims, Arvind outlined what he called the 'Revanth model' of political movement. 'Revanth was in BRS. He moved to TDP. He moved to Congress. In between, I have certain information... before moving to Congress, he was considering the BJP. So, such a person cannot be loyal to anybody. We never know. He might take up another party,' Arvind said.
When asked if the BJP would accept Revanth Reddy should he seek to join, Arvind said the decision rested entirely with the party's high command. 'Generally, the Bharatiya Janata Party is a huge party. And when certain people come, they accept; mostly, they accept. But at the end of the day, it is the party high command's decision,' he added.
Bus Driver Removal Sparks Fresh Controversy
Arvind also turned his fire on the Telangana government over the removal of a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) contract bus driver, identified as B. Ashok, from duty at the Jagtial depot on 26 May. According to Arvind, the driver was taken off duty after he reportedly advised local Congress leaders — who were protesting against fuel prices — to instead focus on the procurement of paddy and maize from distressed farmers.
The BJP MP accused the Congress government in Telangana of acting with 'arrogance' and 'high-handedness.' 'He was just suggesting. Maybe he got a farming background or is a sympathiser of a farmer. Removing him from duty is uncalled for. And we will not appreciate this move of the Congress party. We will stand by the driver,' Arvind said.
Fuel Prices: BJP Targets Telangana's VAT
Arvind also attacked the Congress over its criticism of the Centre on rising fuel prices, claiming Telangana levies among the highest state-level taxes on petroleum in the country. He cited figures placing Telangana's petrol price at ₹115.70 per litre, compared to ₹112.30 in Kerala, ₹107.70 in Karnataka, ₹105.60 in Tamil Nadu, and ₹99.50 in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
'Already, the Central government has reduced ₹10 in March. So, it is up to the state government to take a step forward and reduce prices — the VAT amount. They are collecting the highest in the country,' Arvind said, urging the Telangana government to cut its duty on fuel. The Revanth Reddy government is yet to formally respond to these claims, and how the ruling party handles the political pressure will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
Where defections are routine and coalition arithmetic shifts quickly, even unsubstantiated allegations of disloyalty can erode a CM's authority within his own party. The 'Suvendu Adhikari' comparison is a deliberate provocation designed to sow doubt in Congress ranks. Meanwhile, the TGSRTC driver episode — however minor — hands the BJP a ready-made narrative about the Congress government's intolerance of dissent. The fuel-price data offensive is the sharpest of the three attacks: if Telangana is indeed the most expensive state for petrol, that is a policy vulnerability the Congress cannot easily explain away.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind claim about Revanth Reddy and the BJP?
Arvind claimed he had information suggesting Telangana CM Revanth Reddy once considered joining the BJP before ultimately moving from the TDP to Congress. He described this as part of a pattern of party-switching and said such a leader 'cannot be loyal to anybody.'
Who is Dharmapuri Arvind and why is he making these claims?
Dharmapuri Arvind is a BJP Member of Parliament who has been consistently targeting Telangana CM Revanth Reddy over political loyalty, governance, and fuel prices. His remarks on 27 May were an extension of allegations he made the previous day, when he compared Reddy to West Bengal defector Suvendu Adhikari.
Why was TGSRTC driver B. Ashok removed from duty?
B. Ashok, a contract driver at the Jagtial depot, was removed from duty on 26 May after he reportedly advised local Congress leaders — who were protesting against fuel prices — to instead prioritise paddy and maize procurement from distressed farmers. Arvind condemned the removal as 'high-handedness' by the Congress government.
How does Telangana's fuel price compare to other states, according to Arvind?
Arvind claimed Telangana has the highest petrol price in the country at ₹115.70 per litre, compared to ₹112.30 in Kerala, ₹107.70 in Karnataka, ₹105.60 in Tamil Nadu, and ₹99.50 in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. He attributed the gap to higher state-level VAT and urged the Telangana government to reduce it.
Has Revanth Reddy responded to these allegations?
As of the time of reporting, the Telangana Chief Minister's office had not issued a formal response to Arvind's claims about BJP consideration or the fuel-price comparisons. The Revanth Reddy government's reaction is expected to shape the next phase of this political exchange.
