Shiv Sena (UBT) tells Revanth Reddy: Don't divide India on North-South lines
Synopsis
Shiv Sena (UBT) — a Congress ally in the INDIA bloc — has publicly told Telangana CM Revanth Reddy to stop dividing the country along North-South lines. The intra-alliance rebuke, triggered by Reddy's 'second-class citizens' remark in Bengaluru, exposes a fault line in opposition unity at a moment when the North-South delimitation debate is already running hot.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday rebuked Telangana CM Revanth Reddy for remarks that risk deepening North-South divisions.
Reddy had alleged in Bengaluru on Saturday that southern Indians are treated as 'second-class citizens' and that the BJP lacks strength to represent the South.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said India is like 'a very beautiful bouquet' and urged Reddy to respect all states equally.
The rebuke is politically significant as Shiv Sena (UBT) is an INDIA bloc ally of the Congress , making this an intra-alliance dispute.
The row comes amid a broader national debate over delimitation and federal resource allocation that has stoked North-South tensions.
Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday publicly rebuked Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy over his remarks about a North-South divide in India, asserting that every state is an inseparable part of the nation and must be seen through the prism of unity rather than regional rivalry. The warning came from within the INDIA bloc itself, underscoring the political sensitivity of Reddy's comments.
What Revanth Reddy Said
The controversy traces back to a Saturday media interaction in Bengaluru, where Reddy argued that people in southern India do not wish to be treated as 'second-class citizens.' He went further, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lacks the political strength to represent the South. 'The PM is from North India. The President is also from North India. This is because you (the BJP) do not have the strength to represent us,' Reddy said.
Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sharp Rebuke
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey responded directly, urging Reddy — a senior Congress leader and sitting Chief Minister — to step back from rhetoric that risks fracturing national cohesion. 'That is not right. Do not divide the country on the basis of states. This country is like a very beautiful bouquet. One flower is of one colour, another flower is of a different colour; some have a different fragrance. But all are flowers. It is all a bouquet,' Dubey said.
Dubey stressed that India's resilience rests on its diversity and the collective will of its people to stand together. He invoked the example of national defence to make his point: 'All the states should be respected. Revanth Reddy, who is a sitting Chief Minister, should understand that when we go to war against Pakistan, we do not see North and South. In coming times, I hope these things change,' he added.
Significance Within the INDIA Bloc
The rebuke carries added weight because Shiv Sena (UBT) is an alliance partner of the Congress in the INDIA bloc. A sitting ally publicly correcting a Congress Chief Minister signals internal discomfort with the direction of Reddy's regional messaging. Notably, this is not the first time southern leaders have raised concerns about political representation and resource allocation — the debate over delimitation and tax devolution has kept North-South tensions simmering for months.
Broader Context
The remarks arrive against the backdrop of an ongoing national debate over the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, which critics in southern states argue will reduce their seat count relative to more populous northern states. Leaders from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Telangana have repeatedly flagged what they describe as an unequal federal compact. Reddy's comments appear to reflect that frustration, even as allies like Shiv Sena (UBT) caution that such framing risks doing more political damage than good.
Whether the Congress distances itself from Reddy's remarks — or rallies behind them — will be closely watched as the opposition coalition navigates the tension between regional identity politics and a pan-India electoral narrative.
Point of View
But it is a strategic liability for the INDIA bloc, which needs a pan-India narrative to challenge the BJP. The fact that Shiv Sena (UBT) — not a BJP spokesperson — delivered the sharpest rebuke tells you how exposed the alliance now looks. More troublingly, Reddy's remarks conflate a legitimate policy grievance (delimitation, tax devolution) with an identity wedge that hands the ruling party a gift: the image of an opposition fracturing along regional lines. The Congress has yet to publicly respond, and that silence is itself a signal of the bind it is in.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Telangana CM Revanth Reddy say about North and South India?
Revanth Reddy, during a media interaction in Bengaluru on Saturday, claimed that southern Indians do not want to be treated as 'second-class citizens.' He also alleged that the BJP lacks the political strength to represent the South, pointing out that both the Prime Minister and the President are from North India.
Why did Shiv Sena (UBT) criticise Revanth Reddy?
Shiv Sena (UBT) criticised Reddy because his remarks were seen as promoting regional divisions. Spokesperson Anand Dubey urged the Telangana Chief Minister to respect all states equally and stressed that India's strength lies in its unity and diversity.
Is Shiv Sena (UBT) in the same political alliance as the Congress?
Yes, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress are both part of the INDIA bloc opposition alliance. The rebuke is therefore an intra-alliance dispute, making it politically significant beyond a routine party-versus-party exchange.
What is the broader context behind the North-South tensions in India?
The remarks come amid an ongoing national debate over delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, which southern states fear will reduce their representation relative to more populous northern states. Tax devolution and federal resource-sharing have also been flashpoints, with leaders from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Telangana voicing concerns about what they describe as an unequal federal compact.
Has the Congress responded to Shiv Sena (UBT)'s rebuke of Revanth Reddy?
As of the latest available reports, the Congress has not publicly responded to Shiv Sena (UBT)'s criticism of Reddy. The party's silence on the intra-bloc dispute is being closely watched by political observers.
