CM Revanth Reddy receives Aryadan Muhammad-2026 Award in Kerala
Synopsis
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy received the Aryadan Muhammad-2026 Award at a ceremony in Nilambur, Kerala, presented by Congress MP KC Venugopal. He became the first recipient from outside Kerala, honouring the legacy of the veteran eight-term MLA and Congress stalwart.
Key Takeaways
CM Revanth Reddy received the Aryadan Muhammad-2026 Award at an event in Nilambur, Kerala on 25 September 2026 .
He is the first recipient from outside Kerala to receive this award, as stated at the ceremony.
The award was presented by KC Venugopal , Congress MP and Public Accounts Committee Chairman.
Aryadan Muhammad served as MLA for eight terms and as minister four times under multiple Kerala Chief Ministers.
The CM invoked Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra and personal visits to Kerala while praising the state's secular values.
The event was organised by the Aryadan Muhammad Foundation , chaired by Aryadan Shaukat .
A prestigious honour crossed state lines on Friday, 25 September 2026 — Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of Telangana received the 'Aryadan Muhammad-2026 Award' at a ceremony in Nilambur, Kerala, becoming the first recipient from outside Kerala in the award's history.
First out-of-state recipient, handed the honour by KC Venugopal
The award was presented by KC Venugopal, Congress MP and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, at an event organised by the Aryadan Muhammad Foundation. Foundation Chairman Aryadan Shaukat, along with several Kerala ministers and elected representatives, attended the ceremony.
Accepting the honour, CM Revanth Reddy said he felt deeply privileged — and that being chosen as the toli vyakti (first person) from outside Kerala to receive the award made it even more meaningful. He expressed gratitude to the jury for the selection.
Revanth Reddy's tribute to a Kerala 'Chanakya'
Aryadan Muhammad served as MLA from Nilambur for eight terms and as minister under multiple Chief Ministers on four separate occasions, cementing his reputation as one of Kerala Congress's most astute strategists. The CM described him as a 'Chanakya' of Kerala politics — a towering figure for whom Congress in Nilambur and across Kerala was almost synonymous with his name.
'He spent his entire life fighting for freedom, democracy, secularism, and constitutional protection,' Revanth Reddy said, adding that the spirit of Aryadan Muhammad must inspire collective resolve to protect the Constitution.
Kerala's 'warmth' and the Bharat Jodo Yatra connection
The CM drew a warm personal thread through his Kerala visits — from campaigning during assembly elections to walking alongside Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. 'Every time I come to Kerala, I receive an affectionate welcome. Kerala holds a very special place for me,' he said, thanking the people of Kerala for their unwavering commitment to secularism.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which traversed Kerala in late 2022, centred on precisely the constitutional and secular values that the Aryadan Muhammad Foundation now honours through this award — making the citation carry an unmistakable political resonance within the Congress ecosystem.
An award that once stayed within Kerala's borders has now stretched to recognise a sitting Chief Minister from Telangana — a small gesture that signals how Congress is consciously weaving its regional leaders into a shared national narrative ahead of the political seasons to come.
Point of View
Revanth Reddy aligns Telangana's governance narrative with the pan-India opposition messaging that Congress has amplified since 2022. The 'first out-of-state recipient' framing also subtly positions him as a nationally significant Congress figure rather than a purely regional one. Whether this translates into coordinated electoral strategy between the two states will be the next thing to watch.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Aryadan Muhammad Award?
The Aryadan Muhammad Award is an honour instituted by the Aryadan Muhammad Foundation in Kerala to recognise public service, in memory of veteran Congress leader Aryadan Muhammad who served as MLA eight times and minister four times in Kerala.
Why did CM Revanth Reddy receive the Aryadan Muhammad-2026 Award?
CM Revanth Reddy received the award for his contributions to public service, as selected by the foundation's jury. He was also notably the first recipient from outside Kerala.
Who is Aryadan Muhammad?
Aryadan Muhammad was a veteran Kerala Congress politician who represented Nilambur as MLA for eight terms and served as a state minister four times under multiple Chief Ministers, widely regarded as a key strategist of Kerala Congress.
Who presented the award to Revanth Reddy?
The award was presented by KC Venugopal, Congress MP from Kerala and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, at the ceremony in Nilambur.
What did CM Revanth Reddy say about Kerala at the ceremony?
He said Kerala holds a special place for him, citing his visits for the Bharat Jodo Yatra and assembly elections. He thanked the people of Kerala for their commitment to secularism and called Aryadan Muhammad a 'Chanakya' of Kerala politics.
